SEB ANNOUNCES BIG INVESTMENT IN FRANCE

Groupe SEB announces an investment of more than 150 million euros in France this year.

With 11 industrial sites in the country, Groupe SEB is very committed to producing in France and invests an average of 60 million euros each year.  

In addition to the investment mentioned above, Groupe SEB has this year two major projects:

On the Group’s world headquarters based in Ecully near Lyon, a new Research Center will open very soon and between 150 and 200 researchers will be working at a worldwide level. This 12 million euros investment will allow further Groupe SEB’s development with the creation of a Global Innovation Center for the Small Household Appliances business. The objective is to bring together, on the same site, the players in the Innovation process, enabling the Group to accelerate the development and the launch of its new products. In 2019, the expansion of the area by an additional 2,500 m2 has begun, 40% of which will be used for labs. The purpose of all these investments is, in particular, to study consumer behavior and needs in order to derive strong concepts for new products. 


In Hauts-de-France, Groupe SEB has committed around 80 million euros to build a logistics platform at the Alouette business park in Bully-les-Mines. Covering an area of more than 26 hectares, the site will host the future distribution center of more than 100,000m² for European markets. The platform should be operational in the first half of 2023. 
 

UP signs brand endorsement with WW – formerly Weight Watchers

Ultimate Products has signed a license brand endorsement with WW – formerly Weight Watchers – for its kitchenware brand, Progress.

The endorsement will see Progress and WW collaborate to develop and promote “value-for-money products” that can help to prepare and cook nutritious and healthy foods.

A range of “Progress by WW” products will be launched across the Small Domestic Appliances and Cookware categories.

These will include air fryers, health grills, soup makers, nut milk makers, slow cookers, blenders, food processors, food steamers, chopping boards, knives, utensils, and kitchen gadgets.

“Progress by WW” products will be sold through Ultimate Products’ channels of retailers, supermarkets, online platforms and discounters, and will also be available to WW members through the WW website.

Brad Pitt stars in De’Longhi’s first international campaign

Brad Pitt stars in De’Longhi’s first international campaign

De’Longhi launches its first international campaign directed by Damien Chazelle and starring Brad Pitt.

“De’Longhi has had extraordinary growth in recent years and the production of coffee machines for home use has played a key role in this growth,” commented CEO Massimo Garavaglia. “We believe that Brad Pitt is the Perfetto ambassador to speak to the world about De’Longhi, reflecting some traits of the De’Longhi spirit: bold and international, yet sophisticated and elegant at the same time.”

Thanks to this campaign, the viewer can enter a “day in the life of Brad Pitt.” From buying your coffee bean mix in the morning to riding around Los Angeles on your motorcycle and stopping at a gas station, these scenes depict a moment we all look forward to: getting home and finally relaxing with a delicious espresso or cappuccino, a moment A perfetto that comes true thanks to the De’Longhi super-automatic coffee machine, as it grinds coffee beans instantly and thanks to its technology transforms it without losing its authenticity into the perfect expression of Italian espresso.

Choosing Brad Pitt for this international campaign involves more than working with a recognized global icon – Pitt is an acclaimed actor and producer, a committed environmental advocate, an art collector, passionate about architecture and design. Above all, it maintains its essence, despite its worldwide fame. A spirit of humility that reflects the De’Longhi brand itself, a company linked to its roots with a typically Italian passion for harmony and elegance that goes beyond simple stereotypes and is accessible to everyone.

AGA launch SDA

AGA Rangemaster Ltd has launched the Classic Collection, the brand’s second SDA range since branching out into the category with the Breakfast Collection last The new premium range includes a traditional stove-top style kettle, as well as a two-slice and four-slice toaster. The products are available in Matt Black, Matt Cream and Matt Slate Grey to allow consumers to co-ordinate them with Rangemaster’s most popular range cookers.

The 3kW Classic kettle combines timeless design with ‘quick and quiet’ boil technology. For added convenience, it has a 1.7-litre capacity, sturdy cordless 360° swivel base, boil-dry protection and a non-drip, perfect pour spout. Plus, a removable and washable stainless steel filter ensures it is easy to clean.

The co-ordinating Classic two-slice and four-slice toasters have modes such as ‘Defrost’, which quickly thaws slices of bread straight from the freezer, and ‘Bagel’, that toasts one side while warming the other. In addition, a useful lift-and-look feature and cancel button gives consumers the ability to check midway through a toasting cycle.

Positive results for Groupe SEB,

Positive results for Groupe SEB, (includes brands Krups, Moulinex, Rowenta, Tefal)

which reported sales of 3,610 million euro, with a growth 23.9% compared with end-June 2020. The increase includes organic growth of 26.3% (768 million euro), a currency effect of -4.3% (-125 million), and a scope effect of +1.8%. Though the increase is to be compared with a first-half 2020 that was heavily impacted by the spread of the pandemic, it also reflects solid growth relative to first-half 2019, with sales up 8.2%. Drivers of the Groupe performance are both the Consumer business and a significant rebound in Professional sales in the second quarter.

The Consumer business recorded an organic growth of 29.6% in the first six months, against weak 2020 comparatives in all regions. After a brisk start to the year (+39.1% LFL), the Group maintained robust sales momentum in the second quarter (+20.6% LFL), still driven by strong demand for small domestic equipment around the world. In this environment, promotional pressure remained moderate, ensuring a firm price-mix. E-commerce continued to be a powerful growth engine, the reopening of stores having come late in numerous countries.

Thierry De La Tour d’Artaise, Chairman and CEO of Groupe SEB

Groupe SEB posted an excellent first half, – conmented Thierry De la Tour D’Artaise, chairman and CEO of Groupe SEB – with performance even outstripping pre-pandemic levels despite unprecedented external tensions in the supply chain relating to raw materials and components, delays and additional freight costs. These performances were driven by buoyant demand for small domestic equipment and continued strong momentum in e-commerce. In a context of a still unstable global health environment, but given the performance of the first half, we now anticipate for full-year 2021 a growth in reported sales exceeding 10%, along with an operating margin of close to 10

Galanz launch range of small kitchen appliances

Galanz USA has launched a new line of small kitchen appliances ( Ska ), including 6 new products, designed for space-saving and multifunctional cooking. «Our new Ska collection addresses the home cooking trends we are seeing in the marketplace –

commented Courtney Royko, senior director of product development and marketing, Galanz Americas -. Consumers are seeking affordable appliances with innovative, multifunctional, space-saving features. Through thoughtful research and refinement, Galanz created this new line of sleekly designed, feature-rich, value-priced appliances home chefs will use and enjoy for many years». The small kitchen appliance collection will start launching mid-June and rollout during Q3 at retailers nationwide.

The new Galanz Ska Collection includes the 32L digital toaster oven with quartz heating (GTS311S2EWAQ18), for 30% faster cooking. It features 12 presets such as air fry, dehydrate, pizza, toast, bagel, roast, vookie, convection, broil, rotisserie, bake, and warm. Galanz Grind & Brew Coffee Maker (GLDC12S110A), instead, is a 12-cup drip coffee maker with built-in conical burr grinder. The collection also includes the Multifunctional Air Fryer/Grill (GLSCX608S1A15) with 8 pre-programmed settings: sauté, slow cook, roast, steam, rice, grill, sous vide, and air fry, plus automatic keep warm; the Hot/Cold High-Speed Blender (GLCB60ES210A) with dedicated heating functions for cooking, 8 pre-programmed functions; smoothie, frozen drinks, milkshake, ice.

Ultimate Products acquire the Salter brand

Ultimate Products are delighted to announce that we have agreed terms to acquire the Salter brand. Dating back to 1760, Salter is the UK’s oldest housewares brand and is the UK market leader in kitchen and bathroom scales. Since 2011, we have been selling Salter branded kitchen electrical cookware under a very successful license, and are very pleased to bring scales, kitchen electrical and cookware together under one roof as a combined offer for our customers.

Commenting on the acquisition, CEO @Simon Showman said “it will enhance and diversify our existing exceptionally strong portfolio of value-focussed consumer goods brands. We already have a close relationship with Salter and its customers as a result of our long-standing licensing agreement and we look forward to growing the brand further both in the UK and internationally in the coming years.”

Philips is to sell its domestic appliances business to Hillhouse Capital

Philips is to sell its domestic appliances business to Hillhouse Capital with a 15 year licensing deal in the last of its re-structuring deals.

The domestic appliance business had sales of EUR2.2bn in 2020 in kitchen, coffee, garment care and home care devices as part of total sales of EUR19.2bn for Philips. The license agreement has annual payments that represent an estimated net present value of approximately EUR 700m, resulting in a total deal value of approximately EUR4.4bn. The deal is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2021 subject to customary closing conditions. Philips and Domestic Appliances will enter into an exclusive brand license agreement to use the Philips brand and certain of Philips’ other domestic appliances brands for manufacturing, sales, and marketing globally for a period of 15 years, which is renewable subject to the terms of the brand license agreement. This will see the Domestic Appliances business presented as a discontinued operation in Philips’ financial statements from the first quarter of 2021, minimising the financial impact of losses from the Covid-19 pandemic. “I am pleased that in Hillhouse Capital we have found a new home for the Domestic Appliances business to further expand on its market leadership, strong brand and pipeline of new innovations,” said Frans van Houten, CEO of Royal Philips. The deal, which started in January 2020, continues the focus for Philips as a medical technology company, after its recent acquisition of medical data management companies, although it has kept the personal health business. “This transaction concludes our major divestments,” said van Houten. “Going forward, our focus is on extending our leadership in health technology and continuing our transformation into a solutions company supporting professional healthcare customers achieve the Quadruple Aim and consumers with their personal health.” This includes the EUR 3.2bn Personal Health businesses as part of the integrated health continuum approach through consumer-driven product and solutions innovation in areas such as oral healthcare, personal care, and mother & child care, says van Houten. “We look forward to joining forces with Philips to expand into new markets and capture more growth opportunities globally,” said Lei Zhang, Founder and CEO of Hillhouse Capital. “We are aligned with Philips’ mission to bring high quality products to support healthy and fulfilling lifestyles for consumers across the globe.” The domestic appliance business has 7000 staff and operates in 100 countries. The headquarters will remain in the Netherlands, says Zhang. “I am convinced that together with Hillhouse Capital’s deep e-commerce, supply chain and digital expertise, we will be in a great position to continue bringing meaningful innovations to the consumer’s homes,” said Henk de Jong, CEO of Philips Domestic Appliances. “Based on our market leading product portfolio, broad customer and consumer base and R&D capabilities, we are keen to keep supporting families and individuals to lead healthier and happier lives. We look forward to working with Hillhouse to capture additional growth opportunities.” Hillhouse is backed by US universities including Yale, Stanford and Princeton and has strong links in China with investments in Tencent and JD.com, but has also invested in an organic baby food and snack manufacturer called Little Freddie, a Californian craft beer maker and a pet food brand. https://www.philips.com