Ninja air fryers are made by SharkNinja Inc, a publicly traded American company that has traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker SN since July 2023.
Ninja is one of the best selling small kitchen appliance brands in the United States, and the Foodi air fryer line helped drive much of that growth.
SharkNinja also owns the Shark brand of vacuums and home care products, and the company was once part of a Hong Kong listed conglomerate called JS Global Lifestyle before becoming fully independent.
But how did a brand that started with kitchen blenders end up dominating the air fryer aisle at nearly every major retailer?
This guide will explore who owns Ninja, where the air fryers are actually built, the brand history, how Ninja compares to rivals like Philips and Cosori, and whether the investment is worth it.
So let’s get started.
Table of Contents
Who Owns The Ninja Brand
Ninja air fryers are owned and produced by SharkNinja Inc, headquartered in Needham, Massachusetts.
SharkNinja became a fully independent, publicly traded company on July 31, 2023, when it listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
Before that separation, SharkNinja operated as part of JS Global Lifestyle Company Limited, a Hong Kong listed appliance group.
JS Global was built by entrepreneur Xuning Wang, who also founded the Chinese kitchen brand Joyoung and acquired SharkNinja in 2017.
Wang remains SharkNinja largest shareholder today, controlling roughly 38.6 percent of shares through JS&W Global and JS&W Capital, even though the company now operates independently.
Where Are Ninja Air Fryers Manufactured
SharkNinja designs and engineers its air fryers from its US headquarters.
Actual assembly happens through contract factories, mainly in China, though the company has been shifting some production into Southeast Asia in recent years.
This split between US based design and overseas assembly is standard across the small appliance industry, including rivals like Instant and Cosori.
SharkNinja retains full control over engineering, testing, and safety standards even though outside factories build the finished units.
The History Of Ninja And The Foodi Air Fryer Line
The Ninja brand launched in 2009 under SharkNinja leadership, starting with kitchen blenders before expanding into food processors and pressure cookers.
Ninja introduced the original Foodi on September 5, 2018, combining pressure cooking with its Air Crisp technology in a single appliance for the first time.
That launch is widely credited with turning Ninja into a serious air frying brand almost overnight, and standalone Ninja air fryer models followed soon after.
SharkNinja has continued releasing new air frying technology since then, including the Ninja CRISPi line introduced in 2024.
What Makes Ninja Air Fryers Stand Out From Competitors
Ninja air fryers are known for large basket capacities, dual zone cooking baskets, and simple dial or button controls rather than complicated touchscreens.
Many models combine air frying with other functions like dehydrating, roasting, and baking, reducing the need for separate countertop appliances.
The brand also emphasizes nonstick, ceramic coated baskets, and Ninja backs the coating on its Foodi cookware with a limited lifetime guarantee against sticking, chipping, or flaking for up to 10 years.
Frequent product launches keep Ninja visible at major retailers, often ahead of smaller air fryer specialists.
Ninja Air Fryers Versus Other Popular Brands
Philips popularized the modern countertop air fryer years before Ninja entered the category, and Philips models remain known for consistent, even cooking.
Instant, the brand behind the Instant Pot, and Cosori both compete with Ninja on price and basket capacity in the mid range air fryer market.
Ninja tends to differentiate itself through multi function combo appliances, like ovens that air fry, bake, and dehydrate in one unit, rather than standalone basket only models.
Buyers often choose Ninja for versatility and choose Philips or Cosori when they want a smaller, simpler, single purpose air fryer.
Does Ninja Only Make Air Fryers
No. Ninja makes a full range of kitchen appliances beyond air fryers, including blenders, food processors, pressure cookers, and grills.
Our separate guide to who makes Ninja blenders covers that side of the lineup in more detail.
Ninja also sells coffee makers, electric kettles, and outdoor cooking equipment under the same brand umbrella, and our broader Ninja Kitchen ownership guide covers the full picture.
This wide product range is a major reason Ninja has become the best selling small kitchen appliance brand in the United States.
Ninja Air Fryer Warranty Coverage
Most Ninja air fryers carry a standard one year manufacturer warranty covering defects in materials and workmanship.
Certain Foodi cookware components carry much longer coverage, with SharkNinja guaranteeing some nonstick surfaces against sticking, chipping, or flaking for up to 10 years.
Extended protection plans are available through some retailers for buyers who want coverage beyond the standard first year.
Keeping the original receipt and registering the product online can speed up any warranty claim.
Is Ninja Really Good Or Really Worth It
Ninja carries a generally strong reputation among home cooks, with the Foodi line frequently praised in product testing for cooking speed and capacity.
On Trustpilot, SharkNinja has collected over a thousand reviews with mixed results, ranging from praise for fast replacement shipping to frustration over customer service response times.
Common complaints involve nonstick coatings wearing out faster than expected on heavily used units and difficulty reaching a live support agent.
Positive reviews consistently highlight cooking performance, large capacity baskets, and genuinely useful multi function designs that replace several separate appliances.
For most home cooks who want an air fryer that can also handle pressure cooking, baking, or dehydrating, Ninja remains one of the strongest all around choices on the market.
Buyers who only need a basic single purpose air fryer at the lowest possible price may find better value from a smaller, simpler competitor.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ninja Air Fryers
Is Ninja Owned By Shark
No. Ninja is not owned by Shark. Both Ninja and Shark are separate brand names owned by the same parent company, SharkNinja Inc.
Is SharkNinja A Chinese Company
SharkNinja is headquartered and publicly listed in the United States, though its largest shareholder has ties to the Chinese appliance industry through JS Global and Joyoung.
Are Ninja Air Fryers Made In The USA
Ninja air fryers are designed and engineered in the United States but manufactured overseas, mainly in China, through contract manufacturing partners.
When Did Ninja Release Its First Air Fryer
Ninja introduced its Air Crisp technology with the original Foodi on September 5, 2018, and the brand has expanded its dedicated air fryer lineup steadily since then.
I am Jack Neel, a mechanical engineer, researcher, and writer. I created this website to share my knowledge about different brands and products with you. I research the manufacturers behind the brands and provide you with the information you need to make smart buying decisions.