How AGA Became an Icon

William McGrath
CEO AGA Rangemaster Group
SALUTING the individuals whose
vision created one of the world’s
most respected brands…
Mention the word AGA to anyone and you’ll get
an immediate and emotional response. It is quite
simply the most famous cooker and one that is
loved by millions the world over.
While the AGA is well-known for its brilliant cooking
performance and iconic good looks, there is also a
remarkable story behind the emergence of the
AGA cooker as an icon.
Between 1933 and 1946 an extraordinary team of
people came together and had a lasting impact on
the way we cook and the way we live.
When we launched the AGA Total Control in 2011,
themes from the 1930s still resonated today. We
investigated further.
A role such as mine within AGA is many faceted,
with one distinct element being that of brand
custodian. It was with this in mind that we took on
a project to research and collate our archives with
a view to understanding the origins of the power
and unique appeal of the AGA cooker.
Over the course of our investigations it became
clear that one man, W.T. Wren, was responsible
for bringing together a team of such talent and
prescience that they quite simply changed the way
Britain lived.
These changes, which centered on the launch of
the New Standard AGA, were not short lived and
even now the impact that they had on the shape
of our homes and our lives remain.
That’s why we have created this publication to
provide an insight into a fascinating social history,
to celebrate the company’s rich and varied
heritage and, of course, to bring the archives to life.
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