Whirlpool Corporation and Drees Homes Announce Continuation of Longtime Relationship

BENTON HARBOR, Mich., Sept. 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Drees Homes, a builder with a storied 85-plus year history, has signed a contract with Whirlpool Corporation that continues an exclusive relationship of more than 30 years with the world's leading major appliance manufacturer.

Drees is a family business that started with Theodore Drees in the 1920s, grew under Ralph Drees and is now led by the third generation, President and CEO David Drees. The Kentucky-based company, which is the tenth-largest privately owned builder in the country and Top 30 overall, has created neighborhoods in the Southeast, Southwest, East Coast and Central U.S.

Drees Homes is known for helping each customer create their own ideal home. Through integrating 21^st-century technology with a commitment to excellence and integrity and doing business with old-fashioned values, Drees makes building a custom home an easy and fulfilling experience.

Drees features Whirlpool^®, KitchenAid^® and Jenn-Air^® brand appliances in its homes as part of its agreement with Whirlpool Corporation, which now extends through 2019.

"As a business that has also stood the test of time, we value the strong legacy and traditional community values that Drees exemplifies," said Bob Bergeth, general manager of Contract Builder Sales at Whirlpool Corporation, which was founded in 1911. "We're proud to continue our decades-long relationship with a home builder that has an honest and considerate approach to how it does business with homeowners and industry partners."

Drees Homes consistently receives both national and regional industry recognition for quality and excellence in construction, business, and sales practices. It also is recommended to friends by more than 96 percent of its homebuyers, according to a third-party survey of Drees customers.

"We look forward to continuing to offer top brands from Whirlpool Corporation in all of our homes to back up our commitment to homeowners that they can customize without compromise," said David Metz, VP National Purchasing and Operations at Drees Homes. "Whirlpool brand appliances help families give and get the care they need with innovations that make their experience effortless, intuitive and easy. KitchenAid appliances will provide performance, quality craftsmanship and timeless design, especially for culinary-focused homeowners. Jenn-Air products exemplify its reputation as a technology and design innovator," added Barbara Drees Jones, VP, Marketing at Drees Homes.

Builders can find more information about Whirlpool, KitchenAid, Jenn-Air, and all Whirlpool Corporation brands at InsideAdvantage.com.

ABOUT WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE: WHR) is the number one major appliance manufacturer in the world, with approximately $21 billion in annual sales, 97,000 employees and 70 manufacturing and technology research centers in 2015. The company markets Whirlpool, KitchenAid, Maytag, Consul,Brastemp, Amana, Bauknecht, Jenn-Air, Indesit and other major brand names in nearly every country throughout the world. Additional information about the company can be found at WhirlpoolCorp.com, or find us on Twitter at @WhirlpoolCorp.

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SOURCE Whirlpool Corporation