Miele Kitchen Appliances

Miele History

Two families have shaped the Miele company for more than 100 years: the Miele and Zinkann families.

In 1899, with 11 employees, four lathes and one drilling machine, the engineer Carl Miele and the businessman Reinhard Zinkann founded a company for the manufacture of cream separators in Herzebrock. Their guiding principle becomes the business philosophy: Immer besser. which translated means forever better.

Miele Philosophy

Miele has been an independent family-owned company since its establishment in 1899 and is equally committed to its owners, employees, customers, suppliers, the environment and society. The company focus is on manufacturing domestic appliances for the kitchen, the laundry room and for floor care, as well as machines for use in commercial operations and medical facilities ("Miele Professional"). The strategic vision is to be the world’s most trusted and desirable premium brand.
Miele offers products to its customers that set the standards for durability, performance, ease of use, energy efficiency, design and service. This corresponds to the guiding principle "Immer Besser" which the founders Carl Miele (left) and Reinhard Zinkann printed on their first machines - and which characterises Miele to this day.

Continuity of leadership

Since its inception in 1899, the company has been in the ownership of the Miele and Zinkann families. All of the 80 or so family stakeholders are direct successors of one of the two company founders, Carl Miele and Reinhard Zinkann.

Both families are engaged in the operative management of the company, together with three non-family board members each with their own portfolio. All Executive Directors are on an equal footing. 

From left to right: Dr Stefan Breit (Executive Director - Technology), Dr Markus Miele (Executive Director and Co-Proprietor), Olaf Bartsch (Executive Director - Finances and Administration), Dr Reinhard Zinkann (Executive Director and Co-Proprietor) and Dr Axel Kniehl (Executive Director - Marketing and Sales)