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