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: Built-in appliances
Elica Grows Despite Tough Market
Elica reported €349.5M in revenue for the first nine months of 2025, up 2.3%. Q3 saw a 5.1% boost, driven by new Cooking products in EMEA and Engines growth in Europe.
Margins dipped, with EBITDA at €21.9M and net loss at €3.3M. CEO Giulio Cocci cited strong price pressure but emphasized strategic investments and expanded distribution.
Full-year revenue is expected to reach €455M–€460M. Recent moves include expansion in Germany and the Netherlands, the Steel acquisition, and AriaChef’s award-winning debut in Japan.
CDA Group Awarded Ethical Accreditation
CDA Group is now the UK’s first kitchen appliance brand to earn Ethical Accreditation from The GOOD Shopping Guide, scoring an impressive 89 across key categories. This places CDA among the Top 200 Ethical Businesses, alongside names like Octopus Energy and Neal’s Yard Remedies
Siemens and Bosch Unveil Smart Home Innovations at IFA Berlin 2025
At the 2025 edition of IFA Berlin, the BSH Group made a powerful impression by transforming Hall 1.1 into a 6,000 m² innovation hub for its flagship brands—Siemens and Bosch Home Appliances. From smart laundry solutions to precision kitchen tech, the exhibit highlighted the future of connected living.
🧺 Siemens IQ700 Washing Machine: Large Capacity Meets Smart Stain Removal
The new Siemens IQ700 washing machine is the brand’s first to offer an 11 kg capacity, ideal for large households. It features:
– Steam function to reduce ironing time
– Anti-stain program with 6 built-in stain types and 10 more via the Home Connect app
– Energy-efficient performance and intuitive controls
> “This mode pre-treats stains intelligently,” says Guillaume Crestey, national product trainer. “It’s designed for real-life messes.”
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🌬️ IQ700 iSensoric Dryer: Wool-Friendly and Energy Class A
The iSensoric IQ700 dryer complements the washer with:
– A redesigned door for improved airflow
– Induction motor and fan system for energy class A efficiency
– Innovative wool drying without a basket, using centrifugal force
– Alternating drum rotation to reduce creasing
> “We’ve made wool drying easier and safer,” Crestey explains. “It’s a practical leap forward.”
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🛠️ Maintenance Dashboard: Smarter Appliance Care
BSH’s commitment to durability shines through its new maintenance dashboard, now available on:
– Washing machines
– Dryers
– Dishwashers
This dashboard alerts users when to clean the drum, dispenser drawer, or door filter—just like a car’s service indicator.
> “We build appliances to last,” Crestey notes. “Guiding users on maintenance is essential.”
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🍳 Siemens Studio Line Kitchen: Matte Finish and Precision Cooking
The refreshed Studio Line kitchen range introduces:
– A matte design aesthetic for modern kitchens
– Updated IQ700 Flex XL hob with integrated hood and slimmer knobs for more cooking space
– Pan temperature control from 70°C to 220°C
– A new steam drawer (10L capacity) with 10 built-in programs and 70 more via Home Connect
This combination of style and precision makes Siemens a standout in smart kitchen innovation.
Bora Elevates Kitchen Organization with Smart, Space-Saving Solutions
Bora, renowned for its premium built-in kitchen appliances, is redefining kitchen organization with a new suite of products designed to streamline daily routines, maximize storage, and enhance the management of fresh ingredients. The brand’s latest innovations—the Bora Cool Combi XL refrigerator and the Bora QVAC vacuum sealer—embody this mission with sleek design and practical functionality.
🧠 Smarter Storage with the Bora Cool Combi XL
Standing tall at 194 cm, the Bora Cool Combi XL delivers an impressive 275 liters of storage, offering 30 liters more than standard-height refrigerators. But it’s not just about capacity—it’s about intelligent design.
– Zoned organization: Flexible partitions make it easy to sort items by category or usage.
– Clear visibility: Transparent fronts ensure you can see everything at a glance.
– Modular features: Includes removable trays that double as cheese covers or serving boards, retractable vegetable drawers, and non-slip bottle surfaces.
– Accessory-friendly: Thoughtfully designed compartments accommodate small containers like sauce jars, keeping everything tidy and accessible.
Every detail is engineered to support a clean, organized, and intuitive kitchen experience.
🧪 Freshness That Lasts with Bora QVAC
Complementing the Cool Combi XL is the Bora QVAC, a discreet yet powerful vacuum sealing system built directly into the worktop. It’s a game-changer for food preservation and flavor enhancement.
– Vacuum seal solid foods in dedicated containers or bags
– Express marinate meats and vegetables in minutes
– Seal bottles with a specialized cap to preserve liquids longer
By extending shelf life and locking in nutrients, the QVAC helps reduce food waste while supporting healthier, more efficient meal planning
Siemens’ Matt Edition
Siemens’ Matt Edition brings sleek elegance to the kitchen with a matte black finish that resists fingerprints and hides scratches. This refined look now extends across a full range of appliances—cooktops, ovens, hoods, and more—for a cohesive, modern aesthetic.
🔥 Smart Cooking Meets Style
The inductionAir Plus cooktop combines powerful induction with a built-in extractor and silent ventilation. Features like Fry Sensor Plus ensure perfect results with minimal effort.
🔍 Intelligent Ovens
Matt Edition ovens use AI food recognition to help you cook complex dishes with ease, blending high performance with minimalist design.
🌬️ Ultra-Quiet Ventilation
The wall-mounted hood offers up to 900 m³/h extraction with just 56 dB of noise. Home Connect syncs it with your hob for automatic control.
💨 Steam Drawer & Hidden Hood
The steam drawer supports healthy cooking, proofing, and reheating, all controlled via touch or voice. The integrated designer hood stays hidden until needed, adapting to your cooking with smart sensors and freeing up space.
V-ZUG professional pizza
Enjoy restaurant-quality pizza in just four minutes with our V-ZUG Combair V6000 P. With intense heat of up to 350 °C and precise air distribution, our new Professional Pizza function ensures crispy bases, light crusts and melted mozzarella.
Combined with our new Pizza Set, you can create your own pizzaiolo moment at home. The Pizza Set includes a baking tray that fits in all our V-ZUG Combair ovens and a beautifully crafted wooden serving peel in oak or walnut.
Discover the new Professional Pizza function and the Pizza Set – a Swiss engineered solution for making top-quality pizza at home:
The Miele Steam Drawer celebrates world premiere at IFA
Miele new Steam Drawer is a compact powerhouse of culinary versatility. Unveiled for the first time at IFA Berlin, this 14 cm high drawer redefines what’s possible in a classic 60 cm kitchen niche. Paired with a 45 cm oven with microwave, it creates a 3-in-1 solution for baking, reheating, and steam cooking.
The benefit: Several dishes can be prepared at the same time using different cooking methods. While a joint of meat is roasting in the oven, vegetables and potatoes are steam cooking in the Steam Drawer beneath. All to perfection.
– Powered by Miele’s proven DualSteam technology – for perfect results, whether crisp vegetables or tender meat
– Over 100 automatic programmes, automatic Menu cooking and Sous-Vide for maximum comfort for everyday use and discerning gourmets
– Uses 30% less energy than a regular Steam oven
– Ideal for compact kitchens and gourmet ambitions alike
Whether you’re preparing vegetables, fish, meat, rice, or reheating small portions – the Steam Drawer delivers perfect results with minimal space and maximum flexibility.
Waterline Seeks Investment to Fuel Growth Amid Economic Headwinds
Waterline, the UK’s leading supplier of kitchen furniture and appliances to independent retailers, has announced plans to seek external investment to support its future growth.
Over the past year, Waterline has launched several strategic expansions:
– Entered the contracts and electrical retail markets
– Developed proprietary OEM product ranges
– Onboarded industry specialists to drive innovation
These efforts mark a shift toward building a more resilient, forward-looking business. Updates to follow as the investment process unfolds.
Miele Unveils “Next Level Cooking”
Miele is set to redefine culinary spaces with its latest innovation: Next Level Cooking. Leading the showcase is the sleek and sophisticated Downdraft Hood range, designed to elevate both performance and aesthetics in the modern kitchen.
This cutting-edge ventilation system combines powerful, energy-efficient extraction with seamless design. With just a gentle touch of the panel, the hood rises smoothly into position, creating an ideal cooking environment. When not in use, it retracts discreetly into the countertop, preserving a clean and uncluttered workspace.
Adding to its allure is an integrated lighting system that enhances the kitchen’s ambiance—whether you’re in full cooking mode or simply enjoying the space. Users can easily customize the lighting color and brightness via the Miele app, tailoring the atmosphere to suit any mood or moment.
With Next Level Cooking, Miele continues to push the boundaries of innovation, blending functionality, elegance, and smart technology into one seamless experience
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