Lowe's Companies, Inc.
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"We selected Whirlpool for this honor based on its record of on-time shipments and innovative product offerings," said John Kasberger, Lowe's senior vice president and general merchandising manager, Hardlines. He specifically called out Whirlpool brand's innovative Fast Fill water dispensing and filtration system, available on select Whirlpool Gold refrigerators. This innovative feature fills any size container twice as fast as previous dispensers, and its 50 percent larger housing easily accommodates both large and small containers.
"This is another example of how employees at Whirlpool continue to put our customers at the center of all we do," said Tom Ellspermann, general manager for the Lowe's account at Whirlpool. "We are honored by this distinction, which grows out of the relationship between Lowe's and Whirlpool that spans more than 30 years."
About Whirlpool Corporation
Whirlpool Corporation is a global manufacturer and marketer of major home appliances, with annual sales of more than $13 billion, 68,000 employees, and nearly 50 manufacturing and technology research centers around the globe. The company markets Whirlpool, KitchenAid, Brastemp, Bauknecht, Consul and other major brand names to consumers in more than 170 countries. Additional information about the company can be found on the Internet at http://www.whirlpoolcorp.com/ .
About Lowe's Companies, Inc.
With fiscal year 2004 sales of $36.5 billion, Lowe's Companies, Inc. is a FORTUNE® 50 company that serves approximately 11 million customers a week at more than 1,175 home improvement stores in 49 states. Based in Mooresville, N.C., the 59-year old company is the second-largest home improvement retailer in the world. For more information, visit http://www.lowes.com/ .
SOURCE: Whirlpool Corporation
CONTACT: Steve Duthie of Whirlpool Corporation, +1-269-923-3373,