In 1938, Samuel S. Benedict started this family-owned business in an Eau Claire, Wisconsin shop. A one-man company at the time, he served a 100-mile area with only a truck and service car. No supermarkets yet existed as we know them today, so Benedict Refrigeration mainly serviced locker plants, meat markets and small corner markets. In 1942, Sam's son, John, joined the family business. Samuel's other sons, Edward and Robert, joined the business in 1943. The growth of Benedict Refrigeration by 1949 became obvious with more quality products available such as radios, televisions, refrigerators and freezers. Samuel Benedict retired in 1957, selling the business to his sons. Soon after, Edward and John purchased their brother Robert's share. Growth dictated that Edward and John divide the company in 1963. Edward took over the domestic home appliance lines and John continued working with the expanding commercial products in west-central Wisconsin. In the family tradition, John's son, Timothy, joined Benedict Refrigeration in 1977. He became the third generation of Benedicts to work in the business. Tim became a partner in 1982. Ten years later, he acquired the family business from John. Tim added bar and restaurant lines, improved the sales and service departments, and thus positioned the company to expand. Today Benedict's is a fourth generation company with Tim's wife Amy and his sons Luke and Tony heavily involved with the business. In 2017, the family acquired Schomburg Refrigeration in Onalaska, Wisconsin. This allows operations to expand into southern Wisconsin, southeastern Minnesota and Northern Iowa, with the same exceptional customer service that's always been a part of the Benedict name
