Groupe SEB has announced the appointment of Stanislas de Gramont as Chief Operating Officer, effective as of December 3, 2018. The manager comes from a career spent at important companies as Danone and was CEO at Suntory Beverage & Food Europe. In the new position inside Groupe Seb, he will report to Thierry de La Tour d’Artaise, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and will be responsible for the Group’s sales and marketing functions worldwide.
Bertrand Neuschwander, the current Chief Operating Officer, will leave the Group in the coming weeks to pursue new opportunities.
The Group has enjoyed strong growth across the world in the recent years – commented Thierry de La Tour d’Artaise – and has diversified its activity into new sectors. I would like to thank Bertrand Neuschwander for his contribution to our expansion. We are pleased to welcome Stanislas de Gramont, whose international background and expertise in retail and consumer goods will be highly valuable assets as the Group continues on its profitable growth path and global development.
Recently, Groupe SEB’s was among the five companies that joined to create Mix’r, a network, including also APRIL, Caisse d’Epargne Rhône Alpes, ORAVEO and Groupe SEGEX. All strongly believe in the value of a corporate network to further sustainable development based the idea that “many heads are better than one.” This “enabler for responsible companies” is open to any corporate entities interested in CSR or wishing make a more positive impact on society and the environment. The network will offer a range of activities to its members designed to foster collective intelligence and co-development including experience sharing workshops, field and study trips, lectures, inter-enterprise thematic programs, capitalizing on successful initiatives etc. Thierry de La Tour d’Artaise underlines that «Mix’r is based on the firm belief that CSR must be endorsed at the highest decision-making level and laid down in corporate strategy to bring all sectors on board and have a real impact

Since its foundation in 1999, Puppyoo’s core focus has been on the development and sales of household cleaning devices. After 19 years, Puppyoo has securely established itself as the leading brand in the vacuum cleaning industry in China. In December 2016, Puppyoo listed on OTC Bulletin Board (traded as 870077), pioneering the way as the first Chinese internet household appliance company to be stock listed.

Puppyoo has gained more than 100 technology patents across a broad range of cleaning appliance products including canister, stick/ upright, UV mattress, car and robot vacuum cleaners. Puppyoo products have already been sold to 86 countries worldwide, offering a carefree warranty.

Haier Electronics of China, world leader in white goods, on Friday bought Italian home appliance maker Candy for 475 million euros.
The Qingdao-based household refrigerator and home freezer manufacturing company said it had bought out the two Italian partners in Candy, which makes washing machines and fridges.
Candy is a large family-owned Italian company based in Brugherio, near Milan, that manufactures domestic appliances.
Candy’s appliances such as washing machines and fridges are known more through their continued marketing of the Hoover and Kelvinator brands, with over 80% of sales outside Italy.
Haier Group Corporation is a Chinese collective multinational consumer electronics and home appliances company headquartered in Qingdao, Shandong province, China. It designs, develops, manufactures and sells products including air conditioners, mobile phones, computers, microwave ovens, washing machines, refrigerators, and televisions.
According to data released by Euromonitor, the Haier brand had the world’s largest market share in white goods, with 10.2 per cent retail volume market share, in 2014.
This was the sixth consecutive year in which Haier had been the market share leader for major appliances.

Haier Group, the parent company of Louisville-based GE Appliances, has suspended plans to sell products made in the U.S. in China.

The Financial Times reports that the Qingdao, China-based company cited the deepening trade war between the U.S. and China. Haier acquired GE Appliances for $5.4 billion in 2016, and it planned to begin selling its kitchen products in China in November, according to the report.

Earlier this week, the U.S. imposed levies on $200 billion of Chinese goods, and China responded by imposing tariffs of $60 billion on U.S. imports.

“Originally, there was no problem [importing from the U.S.] but now there may be problems,” Zhang Ruimin, Haier’s chief executive, told the Financial Times. “I think Chinese consumers are most interested in [GE] kitchen products. But the U.S. government thought differently.”

The products would have been aimed at affluent consumers, according to the report. Haier already had begun promoting GE Appliances products in China ahead of a planned launch at a trade expo in Shanghai.

Zhang told the Financial Times that most of Haier’s U.S. sales are goods made in the U.S. by GE Appliances, so the company won’t be heavily affected by the U.S. tariffs.

During London Design Festival 2018, Smeg revealed their latest collaboration with the global brand, Disney. A celebration of Smeg’s 70th and Mickey Mouse’s 90th anniversary, a limited-edition range of fridges have been created.

Since its introduction in 1919, KitchenAid has been an icon in the kitchen, and today the brand debuts the heritage-inspired Misty Blue color in select 100 Year Celebration Limited Edition products across countertop and major appliances. Misty Blue is a soft blue color with a hint of green that is reminiscent of one of the first KitchenAid Stand Mixer colors ever introduced. This custom color is available in the Limited Edition Heritage Artisan Series Model K 5 Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer, as well as a 36″ 6-Burner Dual Fuel Freestanding, Commercial-Style Range. The stand mixer is available in two different models: one with a ceramic bowl with flex edge beater and one with a white-coated stainless-steel bowl. Both models will include unique limited-edition features: a heritage-inspired KitchenAid logo and a custom Power Hub cover celebrating 100 years of KitchenAid. The 36″ 6-Burner Dual Fuel Freestanding, Commercial-Style Range features a gas cooktop with electric oven, bringing the tools of restaurant chefs into residential kitchens. The range has convect bake, roast and broil settings and is complete with a Misty Blue door. To give passionate makers the opportunity to kick off the 100 Year celebration alongside the brand in 2019, KitchenAid is launching the 100 Year Limited Edition products in September 2018 https://youtu.be/LvUCYReypJE

Miele has presented at IFA its G 7000 dishwasher with innovative features. In particular, the PowerDisk is easily and quickly fitted in a receptacle on the inner face of the door and dispenses detergent by rotating automatically during the programme. It is around 15 cm in diameter and just under 4 cm thick, and releases a defined quantity of powder granulate into the chamber with each 360° turn. The system automatically dispenses precisely the amount of detergent needed in a specific programme. Particularly in the Automatic programme, dispensing is geared to the degree of soiling which is monitored by a sensor. Consequently, more is dispensed to deal with heavy soiling and about a quarter less for light soiling. In “Normal 60°C”, a PowerDisk lasts 20 cycles, which corresponds to a month’s requirements based on typical domestic use. The powder granulate, which dissolves fast, contains special enzymes for an effective wash, even at low temperatures, as well as active oxygen for deep cleaning and freshness, and protection factors for silver and glassware. Rinse aid and salt are also included. Besides, all G 7000 models with AutoDos are WiFi-enabled and can be controlled via an app from a mobile device or, depending on the country, even via Amazon’s voice-controlled assistant Alexa. This allows users to start and stop their G 7000 from anywhere, activate programmes and options from their smartphones, check levels (with an automatic reminder) and even order detergent online. Finally, a completely redesigned water circuit is aimed at preserving natural resources, bringing water consumption down to as little as 6 l and raising energy efficiency to A+++ minus 10%.

China is a strategic market for the Italian company, becaouse made-in-Italy is very appreciated and can find interesting business opportunities. Understanding this trend, Fulgor Milano, important Italian kitchen appliances producer, has recently given concreteness to the agreement signed with Shanghai Yfaqiancheng Home Appliances Development during the latest edition of Eurocucina. Shanghai is the first location that hosts a Fulgor Milano show room, but further 100 openings are planned in the coming years throughout China.
The Eastern Group strongly believes in the potential and features of 100% Italian Fulgor appliances, both in terms of technology and aesthetics, with the use of sophisticated materials and design. During an interview for the Italian newspaper Il Sole 24 Ore, Wang Tao, general manager of Shanghai Yfaqiancheng, stated that its company: « decided to focus on the Italian spirit and the very high quality of the technology and design of the cooking and on what these products represent, the Made in Italy.»
Gianni Meneghetti, general manager of Fulgor Milano, also expressed his satisfaction: «we are pleased – he said – to have found a capable partner dedicated to the development of our brand in a significant but complex market like today’s China, from which we cannot ignore if we wants to consider an international brand.»

International Roundtable for Household Appliance Manufacturer Associations (IRHMA) announced the involvement of Russia among the countries that gather together to discuss important theme about home appliances industry and sustainable technology solutions for global challenges.
The Russian Federation joins the other member, that are Europe, the United States and Canada, Mexico, Australia, China, Japan and Korea. So, the collaboration between home appliance manufacturers from across the globe is further reinforcing with the Association of European Businesses (AEB) in Russia joining the well-established forum for producer associations, IRHMA.
The roundtable was established back in 2014 and has given the opportunity to key players in the sector to share knowledge and be up to date with the legislative developments in the different continents, as well as to share good practices.
«We are extremely glad that we will be sitting around the same table with colleagues from all over the world and be able to add the challenges here, in the Russian Federation to the picture. In a connected and globalised world, AEB sees such forums as the only way forward”, said AEB’s CEO, Frank Schauff.
APPLiA, the association representing the industry in Europe, which hosted the IRHMA 2018 meeting, is also assured that the enlargement of the participants will add a great value to the discussion.
«For our members – commented APPLiA’s Director-General, Paolo Falcioni – the Russian Federation is the top export destination for large home appliances in 2016 from outside Europe. Opening the door of IRHMA for other associations only shows on how transparent and I have to say very fruitful our joint debates about energy efficiency, sustainability and innovation are. We have a common goal to achieve better lifestyles for the society – no matter on which territory and market the manufacturers are active»
The next IRHMA meeting will take place on 5th September 2019 in Korea.

Freezers, wine cellars, dishwashers, coffee machines and washing machines all get smarter, making life at home far easier

The LG Signature line of premium kitchen appliances have all become easier to use, thanks to the company’s range of smart appliances.
The LG Signature line of premium kitchen appliances have all become easier to use, thanks to the company’s range of smart appliances.
Smart home appliances continued to be a key focus at IFA 2018, the world’s leading exhibition for electronics products and home appliances, which closed on September 5 in Berlin. The Smart Home section saw 70 exhibitors from worldwide show off their latest innovations for the connected home. This year, the focus of smart home seems to have shifted from the living home to the kitchen, with several major brands launching innovations.

LG of Korea took the opportunity to introduce the latest products from its LG Signature premium collection. These include a new bottom-mounted freezer-refrigerator which can raise the drawer to the eye level so that the user doesn’t need to bend over to reach the contents. The refrigerator has a proximity sensor for opening its door, which is especially useful when one’s arms are full of groceries. It also has a “knock-on-door” function: when the user knocks twice on the tinted glass panel, the interior illuminates so that the user can see what’s inside.

The LG Signature bottom-mounted freezer refrigerator raises the drawer to eye level for users.
The LG Signature bottom-mounted freezer refrigerator raises the drawer to eye level for users.

Also from the LG Signature collection is a wine cellar which keeps wines at three different temperatures to suit their style. For example, the red, white and Champagne can be stored at the right temperature for the user’s enjoyment. Storing up to 65 bottles within its sleek metal frame, the wine cellar’s drawer refrigerator allows easy access at the touch of a button. With Wi-fi and voice recognition technology, the user can also use voice commands to open the door, turn on the interior light to have a better view inside, or ask how much wine is left in the cellar. Like the bottom-mounted freezer refrigerator, it also features a knock-on-door function