The General Domestic Appliance Company Ltd. (GDA) was formed in 1988 by the General Electric Company and General Electric (the General Electric Company of America) which each held a 50% share. Its constituent companies were Creda, Hotpoint, Cannon, Redring and Xpelair.

Creda had its origins in two companies: the Simplex Steel Conduit Company Ltd. (later Simplex Conduits Ltd.) formed in 1898, and the Credenda Company Ltd. which was the first to use Creda as a brand name. These companies were two of the founding companies of Tube Investments Ltd. in 1919, from which date the Simplex name was used for installation equipment ranges, and Creda for heating, cooking and other domestic appliances. In 1932 Simplex Conduits Ltd. and the Credenda Company Ltd. merged to form the Simplex Electric Company Ltd., but the distinct Simplex and Creda brands continued in use. In 1987 the Simplex Electric Company was taken over by GEC, and formed part of GDA the following year.