Eureka Introduces the J20 Robot Vacuum

Eureka, a century-old leader in home cleaning solutions, celebrated its 115th anniversary with a significant presence at this year’s CES. In a momentous launch event, Eureka unveiled its innovative cleaning solutions, including the groundbreaking Eureka J20 robotic vacuum and the powerful Eureka OmniVerseTM multi-function vacuum. These products signify the brand’s new era of technological advancement and commitment to modern home cleaning solutions

Eureka J20, which will redefine the robotic vacuum market. The J20’s innovative RollRenewTM Mopping System utilizes a cycling belt mop and dual water tank system to ensure the mop always uses fresh water while cleaning. This system contrasts with conventional robots that typically don’t have a mechanism for removing dirty water while cleaning, making the J20 a game-changer in robotic floor cleaning. The cutting-edge mopping technology enables the J20 to tackle tough, dried-on stains with ease, such as red wine, tomato sauce, and coffee spills.

In addition to its advanced mopping capabilities, the Eureka J20 boasts a powerful 8000Pa suction, adept at picking up fine dust and larger debris.

The J20’s user experience is further enhanced by its all-in-one base station, which combines several functionalities such as completely automatic dust-tank emptying, mop washing, mop drying, dirty water collection, clean water refilling, and detergent adding. Furthermore, an integrated ventilation system with a built-in fan ensures odor control to maintain the fresh and clean environment of your home.

The highly anticipated Eureka J20 robotic vacuum will hit the market in April 2024

Hanneck steps down as CEO of KBSA

Uwe Hanneck has stepped down from his role as chief executive of the KBB retailers association the KBSA.

Hanneck joined the KBSA as chief executive in 2015 and is said to have steered the association through a period of substantial growth, with its retail membership having increased by 74% he provided members with valuable support through lobbying the Government on important issues.

Prior to joining the KBSA, Hanneck had previously been CEO at BSH UK

Haier still n°1 in the world for household appliance

Haier brand , for the fifteenth consecutive year, has been recognized as the number one brand in the world in the large household appliances sector by Euromonitor International, According to the annual report published by Euromonitor International, Haier has once again demonstrated an unrivaled ability to innovate and adapt to consumers’ changing needs, anticipating their desires and meeting their expectations.

Haier has achieved a notable milestone in the global large appliance market, securing first place in sales of refrigerators, washing machines, freezers and wine cellars. In particular, the brand has been the first brand in the world for refrigeration appliances for 16 consecutive years, the first for domestic laundry for 15 years, the first for wine cellars for 14 years and for freezer solutions for 13 consecutive years.

Electrolux Group reports loss in the fourth quarter – driven by North America

Electrolux Group announced today that operating income, excluding non-recurring items, in the fourth quarter of 2023 is estimated to be approx. SEK -0.7bn (-0.6). The underlying loss in business area North America is estimated at approx. SEK -1.4bn (-1.2), driven by intensified price pressure, lower volumes and elevated cost levels related to the cooking manufacturing transition.

Net sales in the fourth quarter for the Group is estimated to be approx. SEK 35.6bn (35.8), an organic decline of about 1%. Operating income for the Group is estimated to approx. SEK -3.2bn (-2.0) and includes non-recurring items of approx. SEK -2.5bn (-1.4). Cash flow generation was strong in the quarter, expected to lead to an operating cash flow after investments for the full year 2023 of approx. SEK 3bn (-6.1).

The main driver behind the loss in North America was intensified price pressure and weak demand during Black Friday, as well as the remainder of the year. Cost discrepancy between production located in North America compared to certain parts of Asia, as previously reported, driven by currency, raw material and inflationary impacts, has resulted in lower market price levels, particularly in refrigeration, which is a key category for business area North America.

As previously communicated, the finalization of the transition of cooking manufacturing in Springfield from the legacy factory, which was closed in the quarter, to the new factory impacted earnings in North America negatively, both in terms of additional costs and impact on product availability. The ramp-up of the new Springfield factory is expected to be finalized in terms of volumes and cost efficiency by the end of 2024.

New external filtration device from Xeros

Xeros announce the launch of a brand new product, the XF3, our independent and freestanding microfibre filtration device. XF3 enables our patented and market leading microfibre filtration system, XFilter to be housed as a stand-alone solution, compatible with any washing machine model. The XF3 achieves a 99% microplastic capture rate and is designed for upmost consumer ease, requiring no replacement cartridges and has one of the lowest emptying frequencies of all available filters. To make the product even more consumer-friendly, XF3 can be installed at any height enabling its sleek modular design to sit on a countertop or under a sink. It is programmed to automatically start when the washing machine drains and has an alert when it needs emptying, enabling users to simply plug it in and leave it to work with complete peace of mind.

XF3 is available immediately for licensing and branding partners and will be launching to consumers in 2024.

RETRA BOARD PROPOSES CLOSURE

Retra board proposes closure of the trade association – members will vote on next steps.

Retra has announced that its board has taken the decision to close the trade association, but, if a proposal goes ahead, Retra will be absorbed into BIRA (British Independent Retailers Association), which will create a new division dedicated to electrical retailers and repair agents.

The association says that the decision to close Retra, which represents independent electrical retailers, has been made with careful consideration by the board and it is intended that as part of BIRA, Retra will better serve the needs of its members in the ever-changing landscape of the electrical retailing industry.

BIRA is a bigger trade association than Retra and it will continue to provide the current Retra support with some additional enhanced services that are not currently offered. The current cost of BIRA membership is £205 per year, which is around half that of Retra membership. 

If the proposal goes ahead – a vote will be taken by Retra members at an EGM (Extraordinary General Meeting) on February 1 2024 at 11am to decide the outcome, Retra will pay the BIRA membership cost of the first year for its members, and any monies left in the Retra bank accounts will be returned to paid-up members. 

As part of the process, Retra’s insurance business, Retracare, will be sold. Although nothing has been formally signed, the board is discussing the sale of Retracare to Pacifica Group. Retra intends for the business to continue and Pacifica is committed to enhancing the range of services on offer. 

Commenting on the announcement, Retra CEO, Howard Saycell, said, “This decision has not been taken lightly. Every effort has been made to sustain the membership numbers, but sadly, the decline has continued and has accelerated.

Sharp presents its technologies for Smart Living

Sharp‘s booth at CES 2024 presents the Smart Living according to the company. Central is the CE-LLM (Communication Edge-LLM) edge AI technology, powering a virtual tour guide capable of engaging visitors with naturally paced and lively interactive conversations. The exhibit highlights a high-speed oven with proprietary Quad Heating technologies. “Combining the industry’s first gold carbon heater for charcoal grill flavor, convection circulation, inverter control microwave, and intelligent cooking control, this high-speed oven helps reduce cooking time to as little as 1/3 of that of a conventional home oven”, the company explains. Sharp is also showcasing powerful hair dryers and upright vacuum cleaners designed to operate at or near 50db, approximately as quiet as a household refrigerator. Moreover, non-contact vital signs sensors and the vital signs sensors for wearable devices are shown.

Dreame launch

CES 2024: Dreame presents the new line of robot vacuum cleaners

Dreame Technology presents the new line of robot vacuum cleaners at CES 2024. The DreameBot L10s Pro Ultra model is part of Dreame’s line of innovative home appliances which includes: DreameBot Additionally, Dreame also features the Roboticmower A1 and a selection of high-speed hair dryers.

“Dreame understands the evolution of customer needs ,” says Chris Lin , General Manager of Dreame Technology North America, “At CES 2024, we will introduce our latest products that redefine the hands-free experience. Our line of robot vacuum cleaners and other household products will allow our customers to have more free time, offering greater convenience, performance and quality.”

DreameBot L10s Pro Ultra 

The L10s Pro Ultra robot vacuum cleaner features an improved MopExtend™ that reaches tight spaces between furniture and the floor and room edges. Thanks to the Robot Flex arm, it reaches dirt and spills that other vacuum cleaners can’t reach.Furthermore, it is equipped with 7,000Pa Powerful Vormax™ Suction technology which allows you to suck up hair, dirt and dust. Dreame L10s Pro Ultra automatically assesses how dirty a space is and re-cleans areas that need more attention to ensure a flawless finish.

The base station is equipped with two scrapers and an automatic base station cleaning plate that remove dirt while the mop is washed with hot water, ensuring it is clean and ready for the next use. In addition to cleaning its own mop, the DreameBot L10s Pro Ultra dries itself, empties the dust bag and refills with water and cleaning solution while docked at the base station.

Thanks to the combination of artificial intelligence and a 3D light system, it intelligently detects and bypasses the most common obstacles to ensure that nothing is damaged and to avoid interruptions of operations.

GE Profile announces the availability of its new Smart Indoor Smoker

GE Profile™ announces the availability of its new Smart Indoor Smoker with Active Smoke Filtration
GE Profile™ announces the availability of its new Smart Indoor Smoker with Active Smoke Filtration the GE Profile Smart Indoor Smoker with Active Smoke Filtration. The GE Profile™ Smart Indoor Smoker provides a revolutionary way to experience a time-honored cooking method—smoking food, without the hobbyist hassle. With innovative technology and countertop convenience, smoked food no longer requires a huge time commitment, a backyard and nice weather.
As the first and only indoor smoker, Active Smoke Filtration technology uses heat and a highly engineered catalyst system to turn real-wood smoke into warm air packed with flavor. The Smart Indoor Smoker is designed to efficiently deliver delicious, wood-smoked seasoning to a variety of foods. Designed for optimal smoke with custom controls and maximum flavor, this unique airflow system, along with tight gaskets and seals keeps the smoke in the appliance, not in the kitchen.

Creating flexibility for users from novice to pro, smoke intensity and temperature can be separately dialed in to achieve perfect flavor thanks to a separate heat source for burning pellets and cooking foods. Whether a hint of smoke or full smoke flavor is preferred, the Smart Indoor Smoker gives cooks the ability to customize. Five adjustable smoke settings let users control the smoke levels until they find their ideal flavor. This level of customization allows cooks to explore barbeque favorites or new recipes with ease and achieve consistent results. The six preset food settings create amazing results for brisket, pork ribs, pork butt, chicken wings, chicken breast and salmon using a heat source at the bottom of the appliance. Users can also customize their own food and smoke settings for other foods of choice from side dishes to dessert.

“We believe that this product will completely change the game when it comes to smoked food,” said André Zdanow, executive director of small appliances at GE Appliances. “Not only are we simplifying the smoking process, but we are opening it up as a cooking method to a whole new audience who may not have had the time or outdoor space to try smoking food before. From weeknight dinners to cocktail garnishes and home tailgating to peach cobbler, consumers can explore all the possibilities of having an electric smoker that is ready to go at any time.”

The Smart Indoor Smoker delivers the flavors consumers demand from a traditional smoker and it looks sleek in any kitchen. Additional features that make dinner prep and clean up a breeze include:

Smoke and Hold ensures your favorite smoked foods are ready when you are with a convenient Auto Warm setting that holds foods at food safe temperatures for up to 24 hours. Gone are the days of overcooked meals or cold dinners if guests arrive late.
GE Profile Connect+ lets users set their desired smoke levels and monitor the cooking progress from anywhere via the SmartHQ app, ensuring consistent and efficient results. Consumers can work in their home office or pick up the kids from school while checking the status of their food or controlling the settings with a few taps. Owners will also receive over-the-air feature updates like guided recipes as they are released for endless recipe tips and inspiration.
Its small footprint and large capacity can fit three racks of baby back ribs, a brisket, a whole chicken, up to 40 chicken wings or a 14-pound pork butt.
The same results consumers demand from a traditional smoker but with a fraction of the wood pellets, making it more cost effective and efficient. Plus, a pellet capture system extinguishes used pellets and collects them in a water tank for easy disposal.
Dishwasher safe, removable racks and drip trays for easy clean up.

Caple to offer 5year Guruntee

Caple announce that we will offer 5 year guarantee on Caple appliances from January 1st 2024. If your consumer purchases a Sense Premium oven or compatible 46cm combi microwave and steam oven, then all appliances purchased for the same kitchen will receive 5 years of parts and labour guaranteed! This compliments our 5 year guarantee for taps and lifetime guarantee for sinks.