Imperial Brown
Imperial Brown is a 100% employee-owned U.S. manufacturer of custom walk-in coolers, freezers, and cold-storage doors, operating four factories across Oregon, Oklahoma, North Carolina, and Arizona. It serves food service, grocery, convenience-store, and special-project (lab, pharmaceutical, archive) customers via direct factory sales and architect/specifier channels.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1920
- HeadquartersGresham, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Imperial Brown does
Imperial Brown, Inc. is a U.S. manufacturer of custom-built walk-in coolers and freezers, founded in 1920 and headquartered in Gresham, Oregon. The company produces walk-in cold-storage enclosures using a proprietary "hybrid" panel construction with foamed-in-place Class 1 CFC-free polyurethane insulation, alongside a compatible line of cold-storage doors (swing, sliding, vertical lift). Its product portfolio spans three primary verticals — Food Service (restaurants, schools, hotels, hospitals), Grocery & Convenience Stores, and Special Projects (labs, grow rooms, biomedical and pharmaceutical storage, archives, ice houses) — plus an aftermarket parts channel operated through the Walk-In Parts Express e-commerce subsidiary.
Imperial Brown operates four U.S. manufacturing plants in Gresham OR, Prague OK, Salisbury NC, and Tucson AZ; the 2023 Tucson greenfield was the company's first new-build plant and extended reach into the Southwest, with the four-plant footprint now placing two-thirds of the U.S. population within a 500-mile radius. The company is 100% employee-owned (ESOP), with no outside equity, and is led by President & CEO Justin L. Sandall and VP of Sales & Marketing Steve Bert. Distribution is direct via factory-based sales teams complemented by architect/specifier partner channels; pricing is quote-based on custom specifications, with revenue generated from one-time capital sales of equipment plus aftermarket parts.
The business model is sales-led and project-based: Imperial Brown competes on customization depth, distributed manufacturing economics, and over a century of brand reputation rather than on technology differentiation or recurring software revenue. Strategic alliances with BASF (insulation chemistry), Heatcraft/HTPG (heat transfer), Chase Doors, R Plus, and CDS Cold bundle complementary components around the proprietary panel core, while Walk-In Parts Express captures aftermarket spend from the broader installed base of walk-in equipment industry-wide.
Imperial Brown firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Imperial Brown
- Legal name
- Imperial Brown, Inc.
- Website
- https://imperialbrown.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1920
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Imperial Brown is a 100% employee-owned U.S. manufacturer of custom walk-in coolers, freezers, and cold-storage doors, operating four factories across Oregon, Oklahoma, North Carolina, and Arizona. It serves food service, grocery, convenience-store, and special-project (lab, pharmaceutical, archive) customers via direct factory sales and architect/specifier channels.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Imperial Brown industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Commercial Cold Storage Manufacturing
- NAICS
- Air-Conditioning and Warm Air Heating Equipment and Commercial and Industrial Refrigeration Equipment Manufacturing (333415)
- SIC
- Air-Cond & Warm Air Heatg Equip & Comm & Indl Refrig Equip (3585)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Chillers & Cooling Plant Equipment (IMAHAKAE)
Keywords
Where Imperial Brown is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Gresham
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
Imperial Brown business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Custom Walk-in Coolers and Freezers: Imperial Brown manufactures and sells custom-built walk-in coolers and freezers. These are one-time capital purchases for commercial cold storage applications. The company also offers replacement doors and parts through their subsidiary Walk-In Parts Express.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels3 records
Imperial Brown product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Imperial Brown manufactures custom-built walk-in coolers and freezers for commercial cold storage, using proprietary hybrid panel construction and foamed-in-place polyurethane insulation. It also produces cold storage doors and sells replacement parts through its Walk-In Parts Express subsidiary.
Product overview
Imperial Brown is a manufacturing leader in custom walk-in panel technology, offering a portfolio of cold storage solutions centered on custom walk-in coolers and freezers. The company operates as both a product manufacturer and customization expert, providing hybrid panel construction. The core product line consists of custom walk-in coolers and freezers, complemented by cold storage doors (swing, sliding, vertical lift), and supported by the Walk-In Parts Express online parts service. The product portfolio also includes specialized solutions for food service, grocery/c-stores, and special applications such as labs, grow rooms, and pharmaceutical storage. Imperial Brown maintains four manufacturing facilities across the U.S. (Gresham OR, Prague OK, Salisbury NC, and Tucson AZ) and operates as a 100% employee-owned company.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Custom Walk-in Coolers Custom-built walk-in coolers designed for temperature-controlled storage in restaurants, hospitals, pharmaceutical labs, grocery stores, and food service applications.
- Custom Walk-in Freezers Custom-built walk-in freezers for cold storage in food service, healthcare, pharmaceutical, and industrial applications requiring sterile environments.
- Cold Storage Doors Cold storage doors including swing doors, single sliding doors, bi-part sliding doors, standard/high lift doors, and full lift doors. Compatible with all manufacturers of cold storage systems for new construction, retrofit, and remodel applications.
- Food Service Walk-ins Custom cold storage solutions designed for restaurants, schools, hotels, and hospitals, providing customization expertise for the food service industry.
- Grocery & C-Store Walk-ins Walk-in coolers and freezers designed to fit exact needs for grocery stores and convenience stores, offering quality, consultative support, and customer service.
- Special Projects Cold storage compartments for labs, grow rooms, art and document archives, biomedical and pharmaceutical storage, ice houses, and special applications.
- Walk-In Parts Express Online sales of walk-in cooler and freezer replacement parts for the walk-in cooler industry, operated as a subsidiary.
Companies that use Imperial Brown
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Imperial Brown technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Imperial Brown partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Walk-In Parts ExpresscoreSubsidiary/online platform for walk-in cooler and freezer parts sales. Offers online sales of replacement parts for the walk-in cooler industry.
- Chase DoorscoreStrategic alliance partner providing cold storage door solutions. Listed as a strategic alliance on Imperial Brown's website.
- BASFcoreStrategic alliance partner providing chemical/insulation materials. Listed as a strategic alliance partner.
- CDS (CDS Cold)coreCold storage solutions partner. Listed as a strategic alliance on Imperial Brown's website.
- R Plus Cold Storage DoorscoreCold storage door partner providing specialized door solutions. Listed as a strategic alliance.
- Heat Transfer Products Group (Heatcraft)coreHeatcraft brand provides heat transfer products for refrigeration systems. Listed as a strategic alliance partner.
- Heat Transfer Products Group (HTPG)coreHTPG brand provides heat transfer solutions for commercial refrigeration. Listed as a strategic alliance partner.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves1 record
Expansion highlights5 records
Imperial Brown competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Norlake: Standex-owned manufacturer of walk-in coolers, freezers, and refrigerated warehouses. Direct competitor to Imperial Brown in commercial and scientific cold storage applications, including pharmaceutical and food-service segments.
- Russell Refrigeration: Refrigeration solutions provider listed as a strategic alliance partner on Imperial Brown's site. Overlaps with Imperial Brown on commercial walk-in cooler/freezer installation and service.
- Arctic Temp Walkin Coolers: Walk-in cooler/freezer manufacturer listed as a strategic alliance partner on Imperial Brown's site. Operates in the same custom-walk-in category and serves overlapping foodservice and c-store customers.
- Bally Refrigerated Boxes: Direct competitor manufacturing walk-in coolers, freezers, and refrigerated warehouses for food service, pharmaceutical, and industrial customers. Closely comparable product offering and customer segments to Imperial Brown.
- Kolpak (Manitowoc Foodservice): Walk-in cooler and freezer manufacturer within Manitowoc Foodservice's commercial refrigeration portfolio. Competes head-to-head with Imperial Brown in foodservice and c-store/grocery channels.
- Master-Bilt: Manufacturer of commercial refrigeration including walk-in coolers and freezers, competing with Imperial Brown across foodservice, convenience store, and specialty cold-storage customers.
- American Panel Corporation: Manufacturer of walk-in coolers and freezers serving foodservice, retail, and industrial markets. Competes with Imperial Brown on custom walk-in panel construction in similar end markets.
Broad incumbents
- Hussmann: A broad incumbent in commercial refrigeration and merchandising solutions, now part of Ingersoll Rand/Trane. Overlaps with Imperial Brown on commercial refrigeration equipment but operates at much larger scale and offers a broader portfolio beyond walk-ins.
- Chase Doors: Manufacturer of cold storage doors and impact doors, listed as a strategic alliance partner on Imperial Brown's site. Broader incumbent in cold-storage door systems that complement or compete with Imperial Brown's door product line.
- Anthony (Anthony International): Major manufacturer of glass and door systems for commercial refrigeration, listed as a partner on Imperial Brown's site. Broader incumbent in cold-storage doors and merchandising, complementary to Imperial Brown's walk-in product line.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Imperial Brown social profiles
Digital presenceImperial Brown financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Imperial Brown leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Imperial Brown subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Imperial Brown funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Imperial Brown M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Imperial Brown
What does Imperial Brown do?
Imperial Brown manufactures custom-built walk-in coolers and freezers for commercial cold storage, using proprietary hybrid panel construction and foamed-in-place polyurethane insulation. It also produces cold storage doors and sells replacement parts through its Walk-In Parts Express subsidiary.
Is Imperial Brown a public or private company?
Imperial Brown is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was Imperial Brown founded?
Imperial Brown was founded in 1920. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Imperial Brown based?
Imperial Brown is headquartered in Gresham, United States, in the North America region.
How does Imperial Brown make money?
One revenue line is on record: custom Walk-in Coolers and Freezers.
Who are Imperial Brown's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Norlake, Russell Refrigeration, Arctic Temp Walkin Coolers, Bally Refrigerated Boxes, Kolpak (Manitowoc Foodservice), Master-Bilt and American Panel Corporation. Broad incumbents are Hussmann, Chase Doors and Anthony (Anthony International).
Does Imperial Brown have an API?
No public API is recorded for Imperial Brown.
What industry is Imperial Brown in?
Imperial Brown's product category is Commercial Cold Storage Manufacturing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAHAKAE, Chillers & Cooling Plant Equipment. Its NAICS code is 333415 and its SIC code is 3585.