
Coleman is a wholly owned brand division of Newell Brands (NASDAQ: NWL), a publicly traded American consumer goods company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. Newell acquired Coleman through its 2015 merger with Jarden Corporation. Founded in 1900 by William Coffin Coleman in Wichita, Kansas, Coleman is one of the most recognized outdoor recreation brands globally, known for coolers, lanterns, tents, and camping stoves. Newell Brands reported approximately $7.5 billion in net sales in 2025.
| Brand | Parent Company | Ownership Type |
|---|---|---|
| Coleman | Newell Brands Inc. | Wholly owned |
Coleman was founded in 1900 by William Coffin Coleman in Wichita, Kansas. Coleman initially sold gasoline pressure lamps through his own company, the Coleman Lamp and Stove Company. The lamps were brighter than standard kerosene lamps and became popular for rural households that lacked electricity. This was the beginning of Coleman's association with outdoor and portable lighting.
In 1914, Coleman introduced its first gasoline lantern, the Arc Lantern. This product became the foundation of Coleman's lighting business and was used by farmers, outdoor enthusiasts, and the U.S. military. During World War I and World War II, Coleman produced lanterns and stoves for the military, which helped establish the brand's reputation for durability and reliability.
Throughout the 20th century, Coleman expanded its product line. The company introduced its first camping stove in the 1940s, followed by coolers in the 1950s. The Coleman steel cooler, introduced in 1954, became an iconic American product. Coleman coolers were known for their durability and ice retention, making them standard equipment for family camping trips, picnics, and outdoor events.
In the 1960s and 1970s, Coleman added tents, sleeping bags, and air mattresses to its product line. The brand became synonymous with family camping in America. Coleman tents were designed for ease of setup and durability, making them popular with casual campers and families new to outdoor recreation.
Coleman changed ownership several times before becoming part of Newell Brands. The company was family-owned until 1989, when it was acquired by MacAndrews and Forbes. In 1996, Coleman was acquired by Sunbeam Corporation. Sunbeam filed for bankruptcy in 2001, and Coleman became part of Jarden Corporation in 2004. Jarden owned Coleman for 11 years before being acquired by Newell Brands in 2015.
Under Newell's ownership, Coleman has continued to innovate with new product designs, materials, and technologies. The brand has introduced LED lanterns, propane-free rechargeable coolers, and instant-setup tents. Coleman products are sold in over 100 countries through retail partners including Walmart, Amazon, and specialty outdoor retailers.
As of 2026, Coleman remains one of the most recognized brands in outdoor recreation. The brand competes in the mid-range segment of the outdoor equipment market, offering affordable camping gear for families and casual outdoor enthusiasts. Coleman's 125-plus year history makes it one of the oldest outdoor brands in the United States.
What does Newell Brands own?
Newell Brands owns more than 20 major consumer brands including Sharpie (permanent markers), Rubbermaid (storage and organization), Graco (baby products), Coleman (outdoor and camping), Yankee Candle (scented candles), Calphalon (cookware), Crock-Pot (slow cookers), Paper Mate (writing instruments), NUK (baby feeding), and Contigo (insulated drinkware). The company sells products in more than 100 countries across writing, home organization, appliances, baby products, outdoor recreation, and home fragrance categories.
Is Newell Brands publicly traded?
Yes, Newell Brands Inc. is listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the ticker symbol NWL. The company has been publicly traded for decades. Shares are owned primarily by institutional investors including index fund managers. The company has no controlling shareholder.
Who founded Newell Brands?
Newell Brands traces its origins to Edgar Newell, who founded the Newell Manufacturing Company in Ogdensburg, New York in 1903. The modern Newell Brands was formed through the 2016 merger of Newell Rubbermaid and Jarden Corporation. Jarden was itself led by Martin Franklin prior to the merger. Christopher Peterson serves as President and CEO as of 2025.
Where is Newell Brands headquartered?
Newell Brands is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. The company moved its corporate headquarters to Atlanta, Georgia after the 2016 Jarden merger. Manufacturing and distribution operations span the United States, Mexico, China, Germany, and Australia, among other locations.
How many brands does Newell Brands own?
Newell Brands owns more than 20 major consumer brands. The company previously owned over 50 brands following the 2016 Jarden merger but divested more than 35 brands and businesses between 2018 and 2021 as part of a portfolio rationalization program. Current core brands include Sharpie, Rubbermaid, Graco, Coleman, Yankee Candle, Calphalon, NUK, Contigo, and First Alert, among others.
Who owns Newell Brands?
Newell Brands is a publicly traded company with no controlling shareholder. The largest shareholders are institutional investors including Vanguard Group, BlackRock, and State Street Global Advisors, which hold shares primarily through passive index funds. Individual shareholders and smaller institutional investors hold the remainder. Newell Brands has no parent company and is not owned by a private equity firm.
What is Newell Brands' revenue?
Net sales for FY2024 were approximately $7.7 billion, down from approximately $8.4 billion in FY2023. Revenue has declined from a peak of approximately $9.4 billion in FY2018, the year following the Jarden merger, as the company divested non-core brands and faced headwinds in several categories. The company's Ovation restructuring plan, launched in 2024, is intended to stabilize margins and return the business to organic growth.
Has Newell Brands faced any major controversies?
Newell Brands faced significant activist investor pressure in 2018 from Carl Icahn and Starboard Value, who criticized post-merger integration management and board governance. The company also disclosed material weaknesses in internal controls over financial reporting related to income tax accounting in 2022, which were subsequently remediated. No single product recall or regulatory action has been identified as material to the company's overall operations in recent annual filings.
Coleman operates under Newell Brands' sustainability framework. The brand's sustainability efforts focus on durable product design, sustainable materials, and environmental compliance.
Coleman's core sustainability approach centers on creating durable, long-lasting products. Coleman coolers, lanterns, and camping equipment are designed for multiple seasons of use. The brand's commitment to product longevity reduces the frequency of replacement and minimizes waste.
Coleman has implemented sustainable materials across its product lines, including recycled plastics in cooler construction and sustainably sourced wood in furniture products. The brand has increased the percentage of recycled content in many products while maintaining performance standards.
Coleman's lighting products have transitioned from incandescent bulbs to LED technology, improving energy efficiency. The brand's propane and butane appliances have been engineered for better fuel efficiency, reducing environmental impact while maintaining performance for outdoor cooking and heating.
Coleman manufacturing facilities participate in Newell Brands' environmental compliance programs, focusing on reducing energy consumption, water usage, and waste generation. The company has implemented lean manufacturing principles that minimize material waste across Coleman's global manufacturing network.
Coleman supports environmental education and outdoor stewardship initiatives. The company partners with outdoor education organizations, youth camping programs, and conservation groups to promote environmental awareness and sustainable outdoor practices.
Coleman has issued occasional product recalls, primarily related to propane appliances and lighting products. These recalls have typically involved potential fire hazards or malfunction risks in specific product batches. The company has generally responded to safety concerns with recall programs and improved product testing.
In the early 2000s, Coleman faced scrutiny regarding safety issues with some propane camping stoves and heaters. These concerns led to enhanced safety testing and design improvements across the product line. The company implemented additional safety features in propane appliances following these incidents.
Coleman has faced increasing competition from private label and store-brand camping equipment that offers lower price points. This competition has created pressure on pricing and market share, requiring Coleman to emphasize quality, innovation, and brand trust to maintain its market position.
As part of Newell Brands, Coleman has faced challenges related to global supply chain management, including raw material sourcing, manufacturing quality control, and distribution logistics. These challenges have occasionally affected product availability.
Coleman has faced scrutiny regarding the environmental impact of its products, particularly plastic coolers and propane-fueled appliances. The company has responded by implementing sustainability initiatives, increasing recycled content in products, and developing more environmentally friendly alternatives.
Through its association with Newell Brands, Coleman has been subject to scrutiny regarding labor practices in manufacturing facilities, particularly in overseas production locations. Newell Brands has implemented ethical sourcing policies and monitoring programs to ensure compliance with labor standards across its supply chain.
No direct competitors found in the same category. This could be because Colemanoperates in a unique market segment or we're still building our competitor database.
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