In 1974, Kindergard® started manufacturing baby safety child proofing products in the United States. Some of the legacy products include outlet plugs that keep toddlers from electrocuting themselves, and cabinet latches to keep curious 3-year-old Houdinis from potentially fatal encounters with household chemicals. The National Safety Council and Consumer Product Safety Commission for years have pleaded with families to use products that Kindergard and others provide to keep kids safe. The products are currently for sale on Amazon, Walmart, and at www.KinderGard.com
Now the legacy American brand has vowed to return manufacturing to America by 2025. In a letter from Kindergard CEO David Happe dated July 16, 2023 to US Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna (R-Florida), Happe vowed to “repatriate” manufacturing by 2025 and discontinue products not made in America by that time.
“KinderGard started out manufacturing products in the United States, and over the past 50 years our products have been featured in nearly every national retailer in the United States from Toys-R-Us to Target to Ace Hardware, Home Depot and many more. At some point along the way, the determination was made that manufacturing was not cost competitive in the United States and the manufacturing was switched over to China. With the CCP subsidizing manufacturers in Asia, and with lax child labor laws, it’s not difficult to see how producing products under those unscrupulous conditions might attract low cost commoditized sourcing and lure companies who put profit over patriotism. We don’t, and we won’t.” – Happe stated in the letter.
He went on to explain the fourfold motive for the change :
1. To provide jobs for all of the Americans that will benefit through the entire supply chain, from the providers of raw materials to the packaging manufacturers, production workers, transportation workers and retail associates
2. To showcase American manufacturing with quality that exceeds international competition, and to reward domestic manufacturers that use technology and age appropriate labor
3. To provide American retailers and consumers with Made in America products consistent with Sam’s Walton of Walmart’s original desire for Made in America products
4. To supplement distribution to support Kindergard’s efforts to raise funds to combat human trafficking with our recently announced “Empty Swing Project” to fund child sex trafficking rescue missions
Happe is seeking congressional assistance in locating American manufacturing partners and programs that may be beneficial to bringing Kindergard product manufacturing back to America.
For additional information on Kindergard products or to learn more about the company’s initiatives on combatting child sex trafficking, please visit www.KinderGard.com or contact orders@kindergard.com for media or manufacturing inquiries.