From a humble beginning crafting wood stoves in the back of a small retail store in Barrie, Ontario, in the mid-1970s, Napoleon has grown into one of Canada's most innovative and strongest companies.
 
Now employing close to 1,000 employees and occupying more than 1.4-million sq. ft. of manufacturing and warehouse space in Canada, the United States, China, Europe and the United Kingdom, the 100 percent family-owned Napoleon has been recognized as one of Canada's Top 50 Best Managed Companies, an annual distinction sponsored by CIBC World Markets, Deloitte, the National Post, Queen's School of Business and CEO Forum.

Stephen Schroeter.

"From the first woodstove my Dad built to today's outdoor kitchens, at Napoleon we always strive for innovation and superior customer service," says Stephen Schroeter, senior vice-president of the Napoleon Group of Companies. "Whether you're talking about our fireplaces, our furnaces or our grills, you know the Napoleon brand is synonymous with quality. It's an honour that we have seen our commitment recognized by being named one of Canada's 50 Best Managed Companies. We owe a huge thanks to all of our associates and our loyal dealer network who have helped make this happen."
 
The designation as one of Canada's Best Managed companies is a recognized stamp of excellence for Canadian-owned and managed companies. Each year, 250 Canadian companies are asked to participate and undergo a thorough review before 50 are selected.
 
Companies are evaluated on their business strategy and commitment to core values, their capability to provide superior customer service, foster a culture of teamwork and support a healthy bottom line and a commitment to set and achieve goals, support their surrounding community and invest in their staff and associates.
 
"We believe there are three vital building blocks to sustainable growth: strategy, capability and commitment," says John Hughes, national leader of Canada's Best Managed Companies and managing partner, Growth Enterprises, with Deloitte, a national sponsor of the Canada's Best Managed Companies program. "Napoleon has demonstrated it's a model of success in all three areas and is duly recognized as one of Canada's Best Managed."
 
Napoleon's business is built on a core philosophy of offering more and better products that will lead the market, and it's the only company that offers lines of fireplaces, grills and furnaces.
 
"The quality and value consumers receive from Napoleon products is second to none," says Schroeter. "Napoleon's commitment to quality combined with honest, reliable service has proven to be a successful framework to ensure the continued rapid growth of the company."