The curtain has fallen on one of France’s most iconic appliance manufacturers. On Thursday, December 11, the Nanterre Commercial Court ordered the liquidation of Groupe Brandt, marking the end of a months-long effort to save the company through an employee-led cooperative. The decision spells the loss of approximately 700 jobs and halts production of legacy brands including Brandt, De Dietrich, Sauter, and Vedette.
This outcome underscores a broader and troubling trend: the continued erosion of European-based appliance manufacturing in the face of global competition, financial fragility, and investor hesitancy.
A Last-Ditch Effort That Fell Short
The final hope for Groupe Brandt rested on a bold proposal—a Scop (Société coopérative et participative), or employee cooperative, backed by Groupe Revive and entrepreneur Cédric Meston, co-founder of plant-based food brand HappyVore. The plan aimed to preserve local jobs and maintain production in the historic Loiret and Loir-et-Cher regions by turning employees into co-owners.
Despite strong political and regional support, including €17 million in public funding from the French state, Centre-Val de Loire region, and the city of Orléans, the plan ultimately collapsed. The court deemed the proposal financially unviable, citing a shortfall of €3–8 million that banks refused to cover.
Political Will Meets Financial Reality
The rescue effort drew unprecedented political attention. Industry Minister Sébastien Martin pledged €5 million in state aid, while regional leaders rallied to raise additional funds. Yet, even with this show of unity, the private sector’s reluctance to assume risk proved decisive.
With no viable path to cover the remaining funding gap—and no means to pay salaries beyond December 15—the court had little choice but to proceed with liquidation.
What This Means for the Industry
Groupe Brandt’s collapse is more than a corporate failure—it’s a symbolic blow to the European white goods sector. Once a pillar of French industrial pride, Brandt’s demise highlights the vulnerability of legacy manufacturers in a capital-intensive, globally competitive market.
For industry watchers, the case raises urgent questions:
– Can cooperative ownership models realistically rescue distressed manufacturers?
– What role should public funding play in safeguarding industrial heritage?
– And how can Europe retain its foothold in appliance production amid mounting global pressures?
As the dust settles, one thing is clear: the Brandt story will resonate far beyond France’s borders.
Category Archives: Brand’s
Middleby to Sell 51% Stake in Residential Kitchen Business to 26North in Transaction Valuing the Business at $885 Million
The Middleby Corporation (NASDAQ: MIDD) has agreed to sell a 51% stake in its Residential Kitchen business to affiliates of 26North Partners LP, valuing the unit at $885 million. Middleby will retain a 49% non-controlling interest in the new joint venture, receiving approximately $540 million in cash and a $135 million seller note.
The Residential Kitchen portfolio includes premium brands such as Viking, AGA Rangemaster, La Cornue, Kamado Joe, Marvel, Novy, and U-Line. This move, alongside the planned spin-off of Middleby’s Food Processing segment in H1 2026, advances the company’s strategy to become a pure-play commercial foodservice leader.
With a sharpened focus, Middleby is positioned for accelerated growth through innovation and automation, offering a robust lineup of commercial kitchen solutions that enhance labor efficiency, reduce food costs, and expand into high-potential markets like ice and beverage.
The commercial foodservice business stands strong with 2024 revenue of $2.38 billion, $654 million in Adjusted EBITDA, and a margin exceeding 27%
Midea Group Sees Slower Profit Growth in Q3 Despite Strong Year-to-Date Performance
Chinese home appliance leader Midea Group posted a 9% rise in third-quarter net profit, reaching 11.9 billion yuan (€1.44 billion), while revenue climbed 10% year-on-year to 111.9 billion yuan (€13.6 billion). Although still positive, the pace of growth slowed compared to the previous quarter.
For the first nine months of the year, Midea reported a robust net profit of 37.9 billion yuan (€4.6 billion), up 20% from the same period last year. Revenue rose 14% to 363.1 billion yuan (€44 billion). The Foshan-based company had previously recorded even stronger gains in the first half, with net profit surging 25% and revenue growing 16%
B&B Trends Acquires Ardes: A Bold Move in Europe’s SDA Market
At WhitegoodsNow, we’re always tracking the moves that shape the future of the appliance industry—and this one’s a big deal. B&B Trends has officially acquired Ardes, a respected Italian brand with deep roots in small domestic appliances. It’s a strategic play that not only strengthens B&B’s footprint in Italy but also signals a broader acceleration of their European growth.
🔍 Why Ardes Matters
Ardes isn’t just another name in the market—it’s a legacy brand trusted by millions of Italian households. Known for blending functionality with timeless design, Ardes brings decades of expertise to the table. This acquisition gives B&B Trends access to a rich product portfolio and a loyal customer base, while reinforcing their commitment to innovation that enhances everyday life at home.
🌍 What It Means for the Sector
This move reflects a growing trend: consolidation with purpose. By integrating heritage brands like Ardes, B&B Trends is positioning itself as a pan-European powerhouse in the SDA (small domestic appliance) space. Expect to see more cross-market launches, smarter product development, and a renewed focus on lifestyle-driven design.
🧠 Our Take
For industry watchers, this is more than a headline—it’s a signal of where the market is heading. Legacy meets agility. Tradition meets tech. And consumers stand to benefit from a new wave of appliances that are both intuitive and inspired.
We’ll be keeping a close eye on how this partnership evolves—and what it means for innovation, sustainability, and competition across Europe
APS Distribution Secures Exclusive UK & Ireland Licence for Tesla Home Appliances
APS Distribution, home to Swift Electrical and several leading kitchen appliance brands, has announced a major partnership with Comtrade Group—brand owner of Tesla home appliances. This agreement grants APS Distribution sole rights to supply Tesla’s domestic appliance range across the UK and Ireland.
The debut collection includes a variety of essential home products, such as fridges, fridge-freezers, cookers, washing machines, and dishwashers. According to APS, these appliances are engineered to deliver exceptional quality and sleek design, offering advanced specifications and backed by market-leading five-year warranties.
Specifically tailored for the UK market, the Tesla range is designed to blend seamlessly into modern kitchens while offering intuitive, accessible technology that simplifies everyday tasks. It’s important to note that Tesla home appliances are not connected with Tesla Inc., the electric car manufacturer. Instead, the brand shares a commitment to innovation, inspired by inventor Nikola Tesla.
The initial launch via Swift Electrical is just the beginning, with additional product lines set to roll out later this year.
Arçelik Group Reports Mixed Q2 Performance: Sales Drop, Margins Improve
In the second quarter, Arçelik Group—the parent company of Beko and majority shareholder of Beko Europe—reported a year-on-year revenue decline of 11.5%, falling from 137 billion Turkish lira to 121 billion. Despite the downturn, the multinational remains balanced in its geographical revenue distribution: one-third from Turkey (where the market remains resilient), one-third from Europe (facing notable headwinds), and one-third from global markets (where strategic investments are beginning to pay off).
– 📊 Regional volume shifts:
– Italy: +5%
– Spain: +10%
– France & Germany: Declines
– 🌍 Total European sales rose just 1.4% in volume, indicating modest recovery amid operational challenges.
Financial Snapshot: Margins Up, Debt Weighs
While operating costs continue to strain profitability, a weaker U.S. dollar—used to purchase raw materials and components—boosted gross margin from 27.2% to 28.4%.
– ⚖️ EBITDA increased from 4.9% to 5.9%, reflecting operational efficiency.
– 🧾 Arçelik reports progress on its workforce restructuring, having completed two-thirds of planned office staff reductions.
– 📉 However, a debt burden of 7 billion Turkish lira led to a net quarterly loss of 3 billion.
European Home Appliance Leaders Urge Brussels to Back Sector-Wide Action Plan
Fifteen leading European home appliance manufacturers, in collaboration with Applia Europe, have issued a joint appeal to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, calling for a comprehensive European strategy to support the sector. The signatories include Ariston, Beko Europe, BSH Home Appliances, Daikin Europe, De’Longhi Group, Dyson, Electrolux Group, Groupe Atlantic, LG Electronics, Liebherr, Miele, Samsung Electronics, Groupe SEB, Smeg, and Vorwerk.
Collectively, the industry powers 130 factories and sustains over one million jobs across Europe, contributing a robust €79 billion to the continent’s economy. Through ongoing innovation, these companies play a vital role in helping households reduce their consumption of energy, water, and other resources.
However, Applia Europe warns that rising energy prices, inconsistent regulations, and escalating global trade tensions are threatening the sector’s stability. Without a coordinated policy response, companies may be forced to relocate manufacturing operations outside of Europe—jeopardizing jobs, investment, and sustainability progress.
Reliance Buys Kelvinator from Electrolux
Reliance Industries has acquired Swedish brand Kelvinator, known for home appliances, through its retail arm—strengthening its position in India’s fast-growing consumer durables
De’Longhi Group Hosts Global Sales & Marketing Conference to Drive Strategic Growth
The De’Longhi Group recently welcomed over 200 global managers to its annual Global Sales & Marketing Conference—an event designed to energize strategic initiatives and reinforce the Group’s leadership ambitions. The gathering spotlighted strong consumer response and commercial success across several recent product launches, enhancing brand positioning across all business units.
Key innovations celebrated at the conference included multiple award-winning products recognized with both Red Dot and iF design distinctions. De’Longhi unveiled its new coffee machines—Prima Donna Aromatic, La Specialista Touch, and Dedica Duo—each reflecting the brand’s commitment to quality and user experience. Kenwood expanded its popular “Go Collection” and launched the new Cooking Chef, advancing its footprint in the food preparation space. Braun introduced new models to its air fryer range and elevated its premium ironing segment with the CareStyle 9 and QuickStyle 7. Meanwhile, Nutribullet broadened its reach with the Flip portable blender, entering new categories while reinforcing its presence in blending.
Looking ahead, the conference also showcased the upcoming product portfolio—merging technological innovation, iconic design, and the trademark “joy of use” that defines the De’Longhi Group. These future launches reflect a meticulous process where consumer insights, advanced industrial design, and manufacturing excellence converge under the “Made by De’Longhi” philosophy, promising to enrich everyday life for users around the world.
LG Teams Up with Chinese Manufacturers to Boost Budget Appliance Strategy in Europe
LG Electronics Inc. is forging an unexpected alliance with former rivals in a bid to strengthen its position in the budget appliance market and fend off growing competition from Chinese brands.
Industry insiders revealed on Monday that LG will introduce co-developed washing machines and refrigerators under its own brand across Europe later this month. The South Korean giant partnered with Skyworth Group Co. to design a 9-kilogram drum washing machine, and worked with AUCMA to produce a top-freezer refrigerator.
This marks the first time LG has collaborated with Chinese companies to develop home appliances. While LG led the product design and development, its partners will handle manufacturing under a joint development manufacturing (JDM) agreement. This structure contrasts with traditional OEM deals, as LG retains control of design while outsourcing production responsibilities.
By leveraging these partnerships, LG aims to offer competitively priced appliances without compromising its reputation for quality—particularly within its mid- to low-end product range.
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