Dyson, the well‑known home appliance manufacturer, has agreed to settle a legal claim brought by 24 migrant workers who say they faced forced and abusive working conditions at a Malaysian factory producing components for the company.
The workers, originally from Nepal and Bangladesh, filed the lawsuit in 2022, alleging treatment they described as equivalent to modern‑day slavery.
Dyson has consistently rejected any suggestion of liability, stating that it had no prior knowledge of the alleged mistreatment and arguing that responsibility lay with the Malaysian supplier operating the facility.
The settlement marks a notable legal milestone, reinforcing that UK courts can hear cases involving alleged labour abuses within overseas factories supplying British brands.
Whirlpool unveils a new cooking collection and a smart washing machine
Whirlpool has kicked off the year with a wave of new launches, unveiling its Suite W Collection of built‑in ovens and induction hobs, along with the highly automated SenseWash washing machine. The lineup leans heavily into the “silent luxury” aesthetic, pairing minimalist design with advanced technology.
Suite W Collection: premium ovens with smart cooking features
At the top of the range sits the W9 built‑in oven, equipped with a three‑level steam injector, an airfry mode, and a high‑temperature setting that reaches 310°C. The collection also introduces a compact 5‑in‑1 oven—45 × 55 × 54 cm—with an impressive 52‑litre capacity, the largest in its class. It supports cooking on three levels and combines convection, microwave, steam, crisp, and crispfry functions, the latter offering air‑fryer‑style results without added oil.
Both ovens feature Whirlpool’s new patented self‑supporting probe, accurate to the degree. Paired with 6th Sense technology and 73 built‑in recipes, it promises consistently precise results. To highlight these capabilities, Whirlpool has teamed up with chef and former Top Chef contestant Thibaut Spiwack, who has created a series of recipes tailored to the appliances.
Induction hobs built for durability and flexibility
Whirlpool’s new induction hobs adopt a matte MattProtect finish, using glass that is three times more resistant to halos, scratches, and impacts than standard ceramic surfaces. They include Flexicook zones with automatic pan detection and 6th Sense functions for effortless melting and warming.
The new HeatControl cooktop adds a minimalist twist: its control panel disappears when the hob is off. Its standout feature is HeatControl technology, which maintains a precise, stable temperature inside cookware. Like the MattProtect models, it also supports 6th Sense and Flexizone cooking.
SenseWash: a smarter, more efficient washing machine
Rounding out the announcements is the SenseWash washing machine, engineered to cut energy use by 50% below the minimum required for class A. A network of sensors analyses load size, fabric type, and soil level to automatically optimise each cycle. AutoDose technology dispenses the right amount of detergent, while a 20‑minute steam refresh program offers quick garment care.
Wi‑Fi connectivity enables remote control through the HomeWhiz app, which unlocks additional specialised cycles. These programs evolve over time based on user feedback, and the app also provides real‑time energy‑consumption monitoring.
Groupe SEB,sharp decline
Groupe SEB, the company behind household names such as Tefal, Rowenta, and Moulinex, has reported a sharp decline in its 2025 financial results. Operating profit dropped to €601 million, a fall of 25% year‑on‑year, weighed down by US tariffs, currency headwinds, and a tough comparison base in its professional catering division. In response, the group has unveiled a major restructuring plan that includes significant job cuts across Europe—up to 500 positions in France alone.
The company generated €8.169 billion in revenue in 2025, representing modest organic growth of 0.3%. However, this slight increase failed to translate into profitability: operating profit fell from €802 million to €601 million, pushing the margin down from 9.7% to 7.4%.
CEO Stanislas de Gramont noted that strong innovation, growth in floor care, laundry care, and cookware, and rising online sales were “not enough to offset significant cyclical disruptions.”
Three main factors drove the downturn:
– US tariffs prompted distributors to scale back orders, with sales plunging 11% in Q2 and 14% in Q3.
– A stronger euro against emerging‑market currencies reduced profit by around €40 million.
– The professional equipment division lacked a major contract comparable to a large 2024 deal in China, costing a further €40 million.
Despite the difficult year, the final quarter brought signs of recovery. Groupe SEB achieved a 13.3% margin in Q4, US sales rebounded by 4.7%, and the dividend was maintained at €2.80 per share.
A Restructuring Plan Affecting Up to 2,100 Jobs
To restore profitability, the company is launching its Rebound Plan, targeting €200 million in annual savings by 2027. Measures include reduced purchasing costs, factory optimisation, and streamlined administrative structures.
This transformation will come with a heavy social cost: up to 2,100 jobs could be cut worldwide, including 1,400 in Europe and around 500 in France, mostly through voluntary departures. The restructuring will cost €200–250 million, largely impacting 2026 results.
Net debt rose to €2.34 billion, partly due to a €189.5 million fine from the French Competition Authority. Groupe SEB aims to reduce its debt ratio to around 2× EBITDA by 2027, down from 2.7× today.
Regional Performance: Europe Steady, China Recovers, South America Struggles
Europe delivered growth across most markets, with strong momentum in Eastern Europe—particularly Poland and the Czech Republic, driven by air fryers and coffee machines. Germany was the main exception, with declines in electric cooking appliances.
In China, sales grew 2.7% organically, marking a return to positive momentum. Subsidiary Supor continued to expand its presence on social platforms, which now represent 25% of its online sales.
South America faced a tougher year. The La Niña weather pattern cooled temperatures in Brazil, reducing demand for fans and contributing to a 6% regional sales decline.
CEO Stanislas de Gramont remains confident: “The strengths of our strategic model and the Rebound Plan reinforce our ambition of achieving 5% annual organic growth and an operating margin of 10%, moving toward 11% in the medium term
Meet Philips OneTurn: Ironing Made Effortless
If you’ve ever wished ironing could be quicker, simpler, and far less of a chore, Philips has just delivered your new favourite everyday essential. Philips OneTurn is designed to take the hassle out of garment care, giving you crisp, polished results without the usual setup or stress.
One Simple Turn. Total Freedom.
What makes OneTurn stand out is its clever ability to switch seamlessly between horizontal ironing and vertical steaming—all with a single twist of the wrist.
No ironing board. No complicated adjustments. No waiting around.
Whether you’re smoothing out a shirt before work or refreshing a dress before heading out, OneTurn delivers powerful, consistent steam at any angle. You get the performance of a traditional steam iron combined with the freedom and flexibility of a handheld steamer.
Designed for Real Life
Philips created OneTurn with one goal in mind: to make looking your best feel effortless. By removing the friction from everyday ironing, the device helps you achieve crisp, clean results more simply, more quickly, and more intuitively.
It’s garment care that fits your lifestyle—not the other way around.
Feel Confident Every Day
With Philips OneTurn, you’re always just moments away from clothes that look fresh, sharp, and ready for anything. It’s a small upgrade that makes a big difference in how you feel walking out the door.
Electrolux Group sustainability leader
2025 saw Electrolux Group once again confirm its place as a sustainability leader in the industry – reducing carbon emissions by 45% in operations, and by 33% in products, compared to 2021.
Hear more from CEO Yannick Fierling, and SVP Product Strategy, Innovation, Sustainability Elena Breda, as they talk through the latest results https://www.electroluxgroup.com/en/from-targets-to-impact-our-sustainability-story-45976/https://www.electroluxgroup.com/en/from-targets-to-impact-our-sustainability-story-45976/
Brandt’s Collapse Marks a Turning Point for Europe’s Appliance Industry
Issad Rebrab the Algerian industrialist behind Cevital’s rise as a global manufacturing and acquisitions powerhouse has opted not to inject new capital into Brandt. The decision sealed the fate of the iconic French appliance maker, which has now entered liquidation after years of uncertainty for its workforce and suppliers.
Brandt, long a staple in French households, had been buckling under the weight of heavy debt, declining sales, and a fiercely competitive market shaped by low‑cost imports and shrinking retail margins. After a detailed review of the company’s finances and future prospects, Rebrab’s team concluded that a rescue simply wasn’t justified.
A Decision Years in the Making
According to people familiar with the discussions, the choice was not abrupt. Cevital examined Brandt’s assets, liabilities, and cash‑flow outlook, weighing whether the company could continue operating without consuming even more capital. The assessment was stark: any attempt to keep Brandt afloat would mean funding ongoing losses with no credible path back to profitability.
A Broader Industry Challenge
Brandt’s decline mirrors the structural pressures facing appliance manufacturers across Western Europe. High logistics costs, intense global competition, and limited pricing power have made it increasingly difficult for legacy brands to sustain investment in innovation, maintain efficient production sites, and secure strong retail partnerships.
Failed Rescue Efforts
As Brandt’s financial position deteriorated, the company was placed under court‑supervised administration. Negotiations followed, involving Brandt’s management, unions, Cevital representatives, and French judicial authorities. Several scenarios were explored — including partial takeovers that might have preserved certain product lines and saved some jobs.
None of the proposals proved viable. The financial risks remained too great, and no alternative industrial buyer presented a plan convincing enough for the court to believe the business could survive.
The Final Blow
On December 11, 2025, the commercial court in Nanterre ordered Brandt into liquidation. The ruling effectively ended operations and put hundreds of jobs in jeopardy, closing the chapter on a company that had cycled through multiple owners and repeated turnaround attempts.
A Test of Rebrab’s Industrial Strategy
Rebrab has built his reputation on bold acquisitions — often distressed assets — coupled with promises to preserve industrial capacity. Brandt, however, underscores the limits of that strategy. Sometimes financial realities outweigh political considerations, emotional ties, and industrial ambitions.
A Bigger Question for France
Brandt’s collapse raises a broader concern for France’s manufacturing landscape: what becomes of long‑standing industrial players when private investors deem a rescue too costly and public authorities are unable or unwilling to intervene?
Repair Is the New Normal: The Case for an EU Circularity Action Plan
Circularity is often framed as a long‑term goal, but in reality, it’s already happening—and at scale.
Across the home appliance sector, hundreds of millions of products are repaired, maintained, and kept in use every single year. Instead of being discarded, they’re given a second life.
This ecosystem doesn’t happen by accident. It relies on strong repair networks, accessible spare parts, solid warranties, and product designs that make repair both possible and worthwhile. Today, appliance repair and servicing has grown into a billion‑euro industry of its own. 🛠
This is circularity in action: not asking consumers to change their behaviour, but creating better products and smarter systems that naturally support longer lifespans.
To build on what already works for consumers, Europe now needs an EU Action Plan for the Home Appliance Industry—one that champions repairability, durability, and fair competition.
👉🏼 Explore the campaign and proposals:
Whirlpool to Cut 350 Jobs at Amana Refrigerator Plant in Major Modernization Push
Whirlpool Corp. is preparing to eliminate nearly 350 positions at its refrigerator manufacturing plant in Amana, Iowa, as part of what the Benton Harbor–based appliance giant describes as a multi‑year effort to modernize its operations.
State filings show that 341 employees are slated for layoffs effective March 9, a reduction that affects more than a quarter of the plant’s roughly 1,500‑person workforce. Whirlpool has also signaled that additional job cuts may occur later in the year as it continues to assess the facility’s long‑term needs.The Amana plant—one of the company’s largest refrigerator production sites—has long built models for the Whirlpool, KitchenAid, Maytag, and Amana brands.
Elica Closes 2025 with Modest Revenue Growth but Pressured Margins Amid Strategic Transformation
Elica has released its fourth‑quarter and full‑year 2025 results, offering a clear snapshot of a company in the middle of a major strategic shift—from a traditional range‑hood specialist to a broader cooking‑appliance player. The transition is underway, but it’s not without financial friction.
Steady Revenue Growth in a Challenging Market
For the full year 2025, Elica reported revenues of €461 million, a 1.6% increase compared to 2024. The final quarter contributed €111 million, with organic growth of 1.7%, signalling that demand held firm despite a competitive and promotion‑heavy environment.
This growth was supported by:
– Strong promotional activity across key markets
– The rollout of new product lines
– Continued investment in expanding the cooking‑appliance portfolio
Margins Under Pressure as Transformation Continues
While top‑line performance remained positive, profitability took a hit.
Elica’s EBITDA declined from €31 million to €28 million, bringing the margin down to 6%.
The company attributes this margin squeeze to:
– Heavy promotional spending across the sector
– Costs linked to launching new products
– Significant investments required to evolve from range hoods into full cooking solutions
This shift is central to Elica’s long‑term strategy, but the financial impact is clearly visible in the short term.
From Profit to Loss: A Difficult Bottom Line
The most striking figure in the 2025 results is the bottom line.
Elica closed the year with a net loss of nearly €5 million, a sharp reversal from the €2.6 million profit recorded in 2024.
The company remains confident that its transformation will strengthen its competitive position, but 2025 underscores the cost of that evolution.
What This Means for the Appliance Sector
Elica’s results reflect broader trends we’re tracking across the white‑goods industry:
– Brands expanding into full cooking ecosystems
– Higher promotional intensity as competition tightens
– Margin pressure as companies invest in innovation and product diversification
Elica’s pivot toward integrated cooking appliances positions it well for future growth, but 2025 shows that the transition phase will require resilience—and continued investment.
Caple Unveils 2026 TV Ad Campaign with Channel 4 to Drive Footfall for UK Retail Partners
Caple is stepping into a new era of brand visibility with the launch of its first TV advertising campaign, set to run throughout 2026. The move marks a significant investment in supporting its nationwide network of independent retailers.
The kitchen appliances, sinks, taps, and furniture specialist has teamed up with Channel 4 and its family of channels—including More4 and E4—to air the campaign during key periods in March, April, and October.
By increasing its presence on mainstream television, Caple aims to strengthen consumer awareness and drive more shoppers toward its retail partners across the UK. The brand says the initiative is designed to reinforce retailer support at a time when visibility and trust are more important than ever.
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