Leading home appliance brand Sub-Zero & Wolf is celebrating a major milestone – 80 years at the forefront of kitchen innovation. Its marking the occasion with a bold look ahead at how we’ll live, cook and connect in the years to come.

Since 1945, Sub-Zero has redefined refrigeration, while Wolf has brought professional-grade performance into the domestic kitchen. From inventing the first built-in refrigerator to setting today’s benchmark in high-spec appliances, Sub-Zero & Wolf has consistently led the way, helping to shape how we cook, entertain and live at home, combining high-spec performance with timeless design.  Family-owned from the beginning, the brands have built a legacy rooted in craftsmanship, precision, and longevity — values that remain central today.

As part of its anniversary, the brand is looking forward to the kitchen of 2105 – predicting self-healing surfaces, zero-waste refrigeration, appliances powered by ambient energy and communal kitchens designed for tomorrow’s cities.

But first let’s take a trip down memory lane with a look across the previous eight decades of the brand…

1945: Sub-Zero is founded by Westye Bakke, introducing the first freestanding freezer, originally designed to store insulin for his son with diabetes safely

1955: Sub-Zero introduces dual refrigeration, ensuring fridge and freezer foods are safely preserved in separate, sealed systems

2000: Wolf joins Sub-Zero, bringing commercial-grade cooking into the domestic kitchen

Today: Sub-Zero & Wolf appliances are recognised worldwide for cutting-edge performance, durability and iconic design and are available in over 90 countries

Some more archival gems…

Looking Forward – The Kitchen of 2105

Sub-Zero & Wolf imagines a future where the kitchen evolves from a room of appliances into a living, adaptive ecosystem. In this vision:

• Refrigerators anticipate ingredient needs, reorder staples automatically and convert food waste into nutrient-rich resources for urban gardens.
• Countertops self-heal, cabinets are made from bioengineered woods and appliances draw energy from invisible renewable sources such as ambient solar or kinetic power.
• Kitchens monitor air quality, hydration and nutrition, guiding residents towards healthier, more sustainable living.
• In increasingly dense cities, kitchens are designed as shared, networked spaces, fostering connection and collective dining experiences.

“Sub-Zero & Wolf has spent 80 years at the forefront of kitchen innovation, combining professional-grade performance with timeless design.” says Craig Davies, Managing Director of Sub-Zero & Wolf.

“As we celebrate this milestone, we are proud of the legacy we’ve built and excited to continue pushing boundaries — designing kitchens that are smarter, more sustainable and increasingly centred on the way people live, cook and connect in their homes.”