Indesit
What is Indesit and who owns it?
Indesit is an Italian home appliance brand with origins in the Marche region of central Italy, founded in 1975 and today one of the most widely owned appliance brands in UK homes. The brand is positioned around affordability, reliability, and ease of use, targeting busy families who want appliances that work simply and last without demanding significant technical knowledge from the people using them.
In the UK and across Europe, the Indesit brand is part of the portfolio of Beko Europe, the home appliances joint venture established in April 2024 between Arçelik A.Ş. (75%) and Whirlpool Corporation (25%). Beko Europe also owns the Hotpoint, Beko, Blomberg, and Bauknecht brands in Europe. The UK Indesit website is operated by Hotpoint UK Appliances Limited, reflecting the shared operational infrastructure between the Indesit and Hotpoint brands within the Beko Europe structure.
The origins of Indesit: from Fabriano to a European appliance leader
The Indesit story begins in Fabriano, a small city in the Ancona province of the Marche region of central Italy, and with one of the most significant Italian industrial families of the twentieth century. The Merloni family had been active in industrial manufacturing since the early part of the century, with Aristide Merloni founding Industrie Merloni in 1930 to manufacture bathroom scales and gas cylinders.
In 1975, Vittorio Merloni, son of Aristide, spun off the home appliance manufacturing operations from Industrie Merloni into a separate entity called Merloni Elettrodomestici S.p.A. The company’s headquarters were established in Fabriano, a location it would maintain throughout its independent existence. Fabriano, also known as the home of Fabriano paper, became synonymous with Indesit and Merloni appliance manufacturing as the company grew into one of Europe’s largest producers.
The Indesit brand name itself derives from Industrie di Elettrodomestici, roughly translating as Industrial Home Appliances, reflecting the manufacturing heritage of the Merloni family enterprise from which the business grew. The brand name was already in use before the company took it as its corporate identity, and when Merloni Elettrodomestici was renamed Indesit Company in February 2005 it was because Indesit was by then the most widely recognised of the group’s brands outside Italy.
Indesit’s history and growth
1975: Merloni Elettrodomestici founded
Vittorio Merloni spins off the home appliance operations from Industrie Merloni to create Merloni Elettrodomestici S.p.A., headquartered in Fabriano, Ancona. The company begins building its position as a significant Italian domestic appliance manufacturer at a time when much of the Italian appliance industry is being consolidated or acquired by foreign competitors.
1980s: Italian market leader emerges
As other Italian domestic appliance manufacturers are taken over by foreign groups during the 1980s, Merloni becomes the premier remaining Italian-owned producer in the sector. Following a period of difficulty from 1981, Vittorio Merloni returns to managing the company in 1984 and leads a recovery that accelerates its growth through the second half of the decade.
1987: Milan Stock Exchange listing
Merloni Elettrodomestici lists on the Milan Stock Exchange, marking its transition from a family-controlled private enterprise to a publicly traded company and providing capital for continued European expansion.
1989: Indesit brand acquires Ariston
Merloni acquires the Ariston brand, adding a well-known Italian appliance name to its portfolio. Ariston had a strong reputation in heating and water heating products alongside domestic appliances, and its addition significantly broadened the group’s European reach.
2000: Russian expansion with Stinol
Indesit acquires Stinol, the leading Russian domestic appliance manufacturer, marking its entry into what was then one of Europe’s fastest-growing appliance markets. The acquisition gives Indesit manufacturing capacity in Russia and access to a distribution network spanning the former Soviet states.
2002: Acquires Hotpoint in UK — becomes market leader
Merloni Elettrodomestici finalises its acquisition of a 50% stake in General Domestic Appliances (GDA), the UK’s leading domestic appliance manufacturer and home of the Hotpoint brand. Approved by the European Commission, the deal makes Merloni Europe’s third-largest appliance producer and, crucially, the market leader in the United Kingdom, with a 23% share of the white goods market. At this point, the group employs approximately 7,000 people across four UK sites.
2005: Renamed Indesit Company
In February 2005, Merloni Elettrodomestici S.p.A. is renamed Indesit Company S.p.A., reflecting the fact that Indesit had become the group’s most widely recognised brand in international markets. The renaming signals the company’s ambition to build a unified international brand identity rather than operating primarily under a family name.
2011: Arsenal FC sponsorship
Indesit signs a sponsorship deal with Arsenal Football Club, one of the UK’s most widely supported Premier League clubs. The partnership significantly raises the brand’s profile in the UK market and is part of a broader investment in brand awareness across its key European markets.
2014: Whirlpool Corporation acquires Indesit
Whirlpool Corporation acquires Indesit Company, bringing Indesit, Hotpoint, and the Ariston brand under Whirlpool’s ownership alongside the Whirlpool brand itself. The acquisition makes Whirlpool one of Europe’s largest appliance manufacturers and gives it ownership of two of the UK’s most common appliance brands.
2016: Merged into Whirlpool EMEA
Indesit Company S.p.A. as a corporate entity is merged into Whirlpool EMEA, ending its existence as a separately structured business. The Indesit brand continues to be marketed and sold across Europe, including in the UK, but the company that bore the brand name is absorbed into the wider Whirlpool organisation.
April 2024: Indesit becomes part of Beko Europe
Arçelik A.Ş. and Whirlpool Corporation complete the formation of Beko Europe. Indesit, alongside Hotpoint, Beko, Blomberg, and Bauknecht, becomes part of the Beko Europe brand portfolio. Beko Europe is 75% owned by Arçelik and 25% owned by Whirlpool, and operates 11 production sites with 15,000 employees and a production capacity of approximately 24 million appliances per year.
Indesit’s positioning in the UK today
Indesit positions itself in the UK as an affordable, reliable, and family-friendly appliance brand. The brand’s marketing consistently emphasises simplicity, durability, and value, targeting households who want appliances that do their job dependably without complexity or unnecessary sophistication. The slogan and campaign hashtag #DoItTogether reflects a philosophy of encouraging shared household responsibilities, with Indesit’s appliances framed as enablers of family cooperation rather than objects of aspiration.
This positioning places Indesit clearly below the mid-premium tier occupied by brands such as Bosch, Siemens, and AEG, and at a comparable or slightly higher level to other value-focused brands in the UK market. It is a deliberate and consistent commercial choice: Indesit competes primarily on price and reliability rather than on technological sophistication or design distinction, and has maintained this positioning effectively across the various ownership transitions the brand has experienced since 2014.
What appliances does Indesit make for the UK?
Indesit produces a range of freestanding and integrated washing machines, with Push&Go one-touch cycle selection as a key differentiating technology. Push&Go allows the most common everyday wash to be started instantly with a single button press, without navigating programme settings. The range covers drum sizes from 6 kg to 10 kg across a variety of spin speeds and programme options.
Indesit tumble dryers are available in vented, condenser, and heat pump configurations. The heat pump range carries A+ energy ratings, reflecting the efficiency advantage of heat pump drying technology. For more on how heat pump dryers work and whether they are worth the additional cost, see our guide to heat pump tumble dryers.
The Indesit dishwasher range covers full-size 60cm, slimline 45cm, and integrated models. The brand positions its dishwashers on ease of use and straightforward loading, consistent with its wider family-focused brand values. Selected models include quick wash programmes for lightly soiled loads and half-load options for smaller households.
Indesit freestanding cookers and built-in ovens are among the brand’s most widely sold products in the UK. Freestanding gas and electric cookers are available across a range of sizes and configurations. An active safety notice relating to selected freestanding gas cooker models was in place on the Indesit UK website at the time of writing, and consumers should check the current product safety notices before using any Indesit gas cooking appliance.
Indesit’s refrigeration range includes freestanding fridge freezers, larder fridges, undercounter fridges and freezers, and a limited range of integrated options. The range is designed around practical storage capacity and straightforward operation rather than advanced technology features, consistent with the brand’s accessible positioning.
Indesit washer-dryers are a practical option for households where space prevents the installation of separate washing and drying appliances. The range covers combined wash and dry capacities suited to most family households, and the Push&Go technology is available on selected washer-dryer models.
Push&Go: Indesit’s signature technology
The most distinctive technology associated with the Indesit brand in the UK is Push&Go, a one-touch cycle system available on selected washing machines and washer-dryers. Push&Go allows the user to start the most appropriate everyday wash cycle instantly, with a single button press, without the need to select a programme, temperature, or spin speed. The machine determines the optimal settings based on the load and runs the cycle automatically.
The technology reflects Indesit’s core brand proposition directly: it is designed to make everyday washing as simple and frictionless as possible, removing decision-making from a routine household task. For busy families where multiple people of different ages and technical confidence levels use the washing machine, Push&Go is a genuinely practical feature.
Indesit and safety: what consumers should know
Indesit appliances have been subject to a number of safety notices over the years, the most significant of which related to certain tumble dryer models that were identified as presenting a fire risk. The affected models were part of a wider Hotpoint, Indesit, and Creda tumble dryer recall programme covering appliances sold between 2004 and 2015, and a product modification programme was subsequently carried out across the affected appliances.
An active safety notice relating to selected freestanding gas cooker models was present on the Indesit UK website at the time of writing. As with any appliance brand, consumers are strongly encouraged to register their Indesit appliances and check the product safety section of the Indesit website regularly, as registration allows Beko Europe to contact owners directly if a safety notice affects their specific model.
Buying and servicing Indesit appliances in the UK
Indesit appliances are available through a wide range of UK retailers including major electrical chains, supermarkets, and online retailers. The brand’s accessible pricing makes it one of the most widely stocked appliance brands across all retail formats. Indesit appliances can also be found through the brand’s own website at indesit.co.uk.
For repairs and service, Indesit appliances in the UK are supported through the Beko Europe service infrastructure, which also covers Hotpoint. In-warranty repairs are handled by the manufacturer service team. For out-of-warranty repairs, independent national repair companies listed in our national service providers guide also service Indesit appliances across all major categories. Common Indesit error codes and fault light sequences can be found in our appliance error codes guide, and genuine Indesit spare parts are available through our appliance spare parts section.
Key facts about Indesit
Year Indesit was founded as Merloni Elettrodomestici in Fabriano, Italy
Year Indesit became the UK’s market leader in white goods with 23% market share
Year Indesit became part of Beko Europe, the Arçelik and Whirlpool joint venture
Annual white goods production capacity of Beko Europe, Indesit’s parent group
Own an Indesit appliance that needs attention?
Whether you need to look up an Indesit error code, find a genuine spare part, or understand your repair options, Whitegoods Help has in-depth guidance across all major Indesit appliance types.
Frequently asked questions about Indesit home appliances
Where does the Indesit brand come from?
Indesit is an Italian brand, originally founded in 1975 in Fabriano, Ancona, by Vittorio Merloni as Merloni Elettrodomestici S.p.A. The Indesit name derives from Industrie di Elettrodomestici, reflecting the manufacturing heritage of the Merloni family enterprise. The company was renamed Indesit Company in 2005, when Indesit had become the most widely recognised of the group’s brands in international markets.
Who owns Indesit in the UK?
In the UK and across Europe, the Indesit brand is owned by Beko Europe, a joint venture established in April 2024 between Arçelik A.Ş. (75%) and Whirlpool Corporation (25%). The UK Indesit website is operated by Hotpoint UK Appliances Limited, reflecting the shared operational infrastructure between Indesit and Hotpoint within the Beko Europe group. Beko Europe also owns Hotpoint, Beko, Blomberg, and Bauknecht in Europe.
Is Indesit the same as Hotpoint?
Indesit and Hotpoint are separate brands but share the same corporate parent, Beko Europe, and the same UK operational infrastructure, operated by Hotpoint UK Appliances Limited. Both brands are positioned at broadly similar market levels in the UK, accessible to mid-market, but maintain distinct product ranges, brand identities, and retail positioning. For more on the Hotpoint brand, see our guide to Hotpoint home appliances.
What is Indesit Push&Go?
Push&Go is an Indesit washing machine and washer-dryer technology that allows an everyday wash cycle to be started instantly with a single button press, without the need to select a programme, temperature, or spin speed. The machine determines the optimal settings automatically. Push&Go reflects Indesit’s brand positioning around simplicity and ease of use, particularly for busy family households.
How do I check if my Indesit appliance has a safety recall?
Register your Indesit appliance at indesit.co.uk to ensure you can be contacted directly if a safety notice affects your specific model. You can also check the product safety section of the Indesit website at any time for current notices. An active safety notice relating to selected freestanding gas cooker models was present on the Indesit UK website at the time of writing, so gas cooker owners should check their model’s status. If you have any concern about the safe operation of your appliance, contact the Indesit customer service team before using it.
Where can I get my Indesit appliance repaired in the UK?
For in-warranty Indesit appliances, contact the Indesit customer service team directly as repairs under guarantee are carried out at no charge. For out-of-warranty appliances, independent national repair companies listed in our national service providers guide also service Indesit appliances. Common Indesit error codes can be looked up in our appliance error codes guide to help identify faults before booking an engineer.
Content disclaimer: The information on this page was researched and written in April 2026 and was accurate at the time of publication. Company ownership, product ranges, safety notices, and market position data are subject to change. Whitegoods Help recommends verifying all current details, including any active product safety notices, directly with Indesit before purchasing or using an Indesit appliance.
Sources: Indesit Company Wikipedia entry (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indesit); Indesit UK website (indesit.co.uk); Beko Europe About Us page (bekoeurope.com/about-us). All sources accessed April 2026.