Skido Appliances: Breville

Breville is a maker of small kitchen appliances, founded in Melbourne, Australia, in 1932. They created the original sandwich toaster, a small household appliance that makes toasted sandwiches. The name is often synonymous with such devices

In 1932, Bill O'Brien and Harry Norville mixed their last names together and the Breville brand was created. They started off making radios, then mine detectors for the war. After World War II and the arrival of the television, they turned their attentions to small appliances and sold the radio business. After Bill O'Brien had set up the Breville Research and Development centre in the 1960s the ideas just kept coming. In 1974, they invented the toastie maker. In 1977, they invented Australia's first food processor, the Breville Kitchen Wizz. Breville's Centre of Design Excellence is in Botany in Sydney.

Ownership of the brand is now split. In Europe, it is owned by Pulse Home Products. Outside of Europe, the Breville brand is now a division of the Australian ASX listed Breville Group, which also has bases in the U.S., Canada and New Zealand. The company makes contact grills, kettles, toaters, irons, microwave ovens, pressure cookers, coffeemakers, breadmakers, juicers, deep fryers, blenders, Keurig single serve coffeemakers, and food processors. The UK company has collaborated with Anthony Worrall Thompson.