The appliance and domestic heating world is mourning a true pioneer. Martin Naughton, the visionary founder of Glen Dimplex, has passed away at the age of 87.
Starting a small manufacturing operation in Newry in 1973, Naughton built Glen Dimplex into a global powerhouse and the world’s largest manufacturer of electrical heating appliances.
Beyond his massive business success, Naughton was a dedicated philanthropist, driving cross-border economic cooperation and funding countless education and STEM initiatives. His remarkable contributions earned him the prestigious Oslo Business for Peace Prize in 2018.
Here at White Goods Now, we recognize that our industry stands on the shoulders of giants. Martin Naughton didn’t just build appliances; he built a legacy of innovation and community progress that will endure for generations.
Our thoughts are with his family and the entire Glen Dimplex team.
A New Era of Kitchen Design:Elica Lhov in Matt White
All-in-one kitchen innovation just found a softer side.
With its new Matt White finish, Lhov brings a fresh, understated elegance into the heart of the home. This refined aesthetic softens the appliance’s presence, highlighting its pure lines while allowing it to blend effortlessly into contemporary cabinetry.
Lhov beautifully unifies three essential appliances into one seamless, extraordinary centerpiece:
An advanced oven
A high-performance induction hob
A powerful, integrated extraction hood
The introduction of the Matt White finish adds perfect balance and architectural continuity to your space—proving that high-end culinary power doesn’t have to shout to make a statement.
AMDEA Unveils Evolving Brand Identity to Reflect a Broader UK Appliance Sector
AMDEA has announced the next stage in its ongoing evolution, revealing a refreshed brand identity that better reflects the growing diversity of its membership across the UK appliance industry.
The update, rolling out over the summer, acknowledges AMDEA’s expanding community — now spanning manufacturers, importers, distributors, retailers with their own appliance brands, and Associate Members representing the wider value chain. To reinforce this broader remit, AMDEA’s new logo will introduce a clear sector descriptor: “The UK Home Appliance Association.”
AMDEA CEO Stefan Hay said the organisation’s direction remains true to his commitment of “evolution, not revolution.” He highlighted rapid membership growth, deeper engagement with government, and AMDEA’s increasingly central role as the collective voice of UK home appliances.
The refreshed identity will be phased in over the coming months as AMDEA continues strengthening its position as the leading representative body for the UK home appliance industry.
Why is the Summer Heatwave Wrecking Your Kitchen Fridge?
Notice your fridge humming louder than usual lately? Or maybe your freezer is starting to sweat, and your milk doesn’t feel quite as cold as it should. If so, you aren’t alone.
During recent major UK heatwaves, supermarkets across the country have grabbed headlines as their massive open-air cooling cabinets broke down or had to be taped off under emergency night blinds. Experts tracking these breakdowns point to a combination of unprecedented weather and common maintenance oversights.
The exact same hidden forces pushing industrial systems over the edge are acting on the white goods sitting in your kitchen right now.
The Reality Check: Our Fridges Weren’t Built for This
Most commercial and residential refrigeration equipment in the UK is structurally engineered around standard Climate Classes. For the UK market, a vast majority of appliances are rated to operate optimally up to an ambient room temperature of 32°C.
When summer heatwaves arrive, several things happen simultaneously that push appliances past their breaking point:
- The “Tropical Night” Trap: It’s not just the blazing hot afternoons causing issues; it’s the warm nights. When nighttime temperatures stay above 20°C, your fridge never gets a “rest period” to dump its internal heat and cool its internal components down.
- The Humidity Spike: Heavy, humid air carries more thermal energy and accelerates frost build-up on cooling coils. If your fridge doesn’t have premium automated defrost cycles, this frost layer acts like an insulating blanket, forcing the compressor to work twice as hard.
- Trapped Heat Behind the Cabinet: Kitchens can easily become the warmest room in the house during a heatwave, especially if you are cooking or running a dishwasher.
When your kitchen ambient temperature creeps toward or past that 32°C threshold, standard refrigeration plant simply can’t keep up. The compressor runs continuously, overheats, and eventually triggers a thermal overload trip—shutting down completely.
Why Small Maintenance Issues Become Fatal Failures
In industrial settings, investigators found that many heatwave failures weren’t just caused by the weather; they were triggered by lack of maintenance. The exact same rules apply to home appliances.
Under normal, cooler conditions, a fridge can operate okay even if it isn’t running perfectly. But when a heatwave strikes, these minor issues become catastrophic:
- Dirty Condenser Coils: If the coils on the back or bottom of your unit are covered in a layer of dust and pet hair, heat cannot escape.
- Zero Breathing Room: Jamming a freestanding fridge tightly between cabinets or directly against a wall cuts off crucial air recirculation. Without proper ventilation, the unit ends up sucking its own hot exhaust air back into the system.
3 Heatwave Survival Tips for Your Refrigerator
If a heatwave is forecast, don’t wait for your appliance to give up. Take these protective steps to help your white goods cope:
- Pull it away from the wall
Give it breathing room
Pull your fridge out by just an inch or two from the wall and surrounding cabinetry. This small gap drastically increases airflow over the condenser coils, helping the unit reject heat into the room much faster. - Vacuum the coils
Remove the insulating dust
Unplug the appliance and use a brush attachment to gently vacuum away any dust built up on the rear or bottom cooling grids. Removing this debris can drop the compressor’s operating temperature significantly. - Keep the door closed
Stop the air exchange
Every time you open the fridge door during a hot day, heavy warm air rushes in and cool air drops out. Plan what you need before opening the door to minimize the number of times the internal temperature gets disrupted.
Whirlpool factory to close
Whirlpool announced a restructuring plan to close its Supsa manufacturing facility in Apodaca, Mexico by the second quarter of 2027, shifting production to its Ramos Arizpe plant and other sites in its network
Outdoor cooking, but at the highest Italian level
Meet PLA.NET Outdoor Cooking, pioneers in outdoor cooking since 1988. This isn’t a barbecue. This is a lifestyle. Think minimalist Italian design combined with professional performance. The kitchens are built from high-quality stainless steel (such as AISI 304L), the same quality found in the hospitality industry. What makes PLA.NET unique? Cooking without smoke, but with maximum flavor. Modular design: fully adaptable to your garden, terrace, or rooftop. Gas or electric, always flexible. From breakfast to fine dining, simply outdoors. With collections like Oasi Kitchen and Oasi Station, you transform your outdoor space into a full-fledged living kitchen 365 days a year. The result? Not just cooking outdoors… but living outdoors. For those who make no compromises between design, quality, and experience
Amica Group is strengthening its position in France.
Amica SA Group is acquiring the rights to use the Sauter brand in the French market – one of the most demanding and key home appliance markets in Europe. This is an important step in implementing its internationalization strategy and expanding its portfolio with a premium brand with over 120 years of heritage. Sauter, founded in 1902 in Alsace, has been building its position as an expert in cooking appliances for decades. Today, it is synonymous with quality, innovation, and sophisticated design, offering products such as ovens, hobs, and hoods, valued by French consumers for their reliability and intuitive operation. “Acquiring the rights to the Sauter brand is not only an expansion of our portfolio, but above all, an opportunity for further development in the French market, together with a strong, locally rooted brand. We want to further meet the needs of local consumers by combining innovative solutions with the unique heritage of Sauter,” emphasizes Maja Rutkowska, Vice President of the Management Board of Amica SA. “We are proud that we will continue the tradition by maintaining Sauter brand production in Europe,” adds Robert Stobiński, President of the Management Board of Amica SA. With this decision, Amica is strengthening its presence in the built-in appliance segment and consistently developing its operations in Western Europe, responding to growing customer expectations in terms of quality, functionality, and energy efficiency. —————- Amica Group SA is acquiring the rights to use the Sauter brand in France—one of Europe’s most demanding and strategically important home appliance markets. This marks an important step in the Group’s international growth strategy and further strengthens its portfolio with a premium brand boasting more than 120 years of heritage. Founded in Alsace in 1902, Sauter has spent decades building its reputation as a specialist in cooking appliance
Currys Profit jump
Currys has posted an 18% jump in adjusted profit before tax to £191m for FY25/26, with strong trading across both the UK & Ireland and the Nordics.
The retailer reported group revenue of £9.25bn (+6% YoY), driven by like‑for‑like growth of 4%, continued market‑share gains, and expanding higher‑margin services such as credit and iD Mobile, which grew subscribers to 2.6 million (+18%).
Currys finished the year with £176m net cash, after returning £74m to shareholders, and announced a new £50m share buyback. Customer satisfaction hit record levels, with NPS rising in both the UK&I and Nordics.
Nordics performance was a standout, delivering +26% adjusted EBIT growth (currency neutral) and strong momentum in kitchens and computing components.
The Group says early FY26/27 trading homepage briefis “very solid,” with leadership confident despite wider macro uncertainty.
Miele Confirms 2027 Departure of Executive Director of Technology Stefan Breit
A leadership‑change story like this needs to feel authoritative, calm, and trade‑focused — exactly the tone WhiteGoodsNow.com readers expect. Here’s a clean, publication‑ready rewrite shaped for your sector audience, with stronger narrative flow and clearer industry relevance.
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Miele Confirms 2027 Departure of Executive Director of Technology Stefan Breit
A planned transition for one of the company’s key innovation leaders
Miele has announced that Stefan Breit, Executive Director of Technology and a long‑standing member of the Board of Management, will step down in the summer of 2027 as he reaches his 60th birthday. The company is communicating the change more than a year in advance to support a structured succession process and ensure a smooth handover across its technology and product divisions.
Breit joined Miele in 2007 and has held several pivotal roles, including plant manager and head of product divisions, before being appointed to the Board of Management in 2016. Over two decades, he has been instrumental in strengthening Miele’s technological leadership, driving innovation across core product categories, and enhancing the company’s competitive position in the global premium appliance market.
His tenure has been marked by major advances in connected appliances, manufacturing efficiency, and long‑term product development strategy — areas that have helped define Miele’s reputation for engineering excellence.
Miele will outline further details of the succession plan in due course as the company prepares for this significant leadership transition.
IFA 2026
A Stronger Appliance Presence Than Previous Editions
Industry sources indicate that the 2026 exhibitor list includes a reinforced mix of established giants and fast‑rising challengers. The trend is clear: IFA is doubling down on appliances, responding to market demand for energy‑efficient solutions, connected home ecosystems, and premium European design.
Key themes
💡 A Stronger Appliance Presence Than Previous Editions
Industry sources indicate that the 2026 exhibitor list includes a reinforced mix of established giants and fast‑rising challengers. The trend is clear: IFA is doubling down on appliances, responding to market demand for energy‑efficient solutions, connected home ecosystems, and premium European design.
Key themes expected across the halls include:
- Energy‑efficiency leadership — Manufacturers are preparing new A‑class laundry and cooling platforms aligned with tightening EU regulations.
- Connectivity that actually matters — Not just app‑control, but meaningful diagnostics, usage optimisation, and cross‑brand interoperability.
- Premium built‑in expansion — European and Asian brands are investing heavily in induction, downdraft ventilation, and modular refrigeration.
- SDA innovation — Ice‑cream makers, air fryers, multi‑cookers, and compact beverage appliances continue to surge, driven by TikTok‑friendly formats and lifestyle shifts.
🏭 Major Brands Returning in Force
While the official exhibitor list is still being finalised, early announcements point to a reinforced presence from:
- German and Italian premium built‑in specialists
- Korean and Chinese global manufacturers expanding European footprint
- Fast‑growth SDA brands targeting Gen‑Z and millennial households
- Component suppliers and OEM/ODM partners, reflecting the growing importance of behind‑the‑scenes manufacturing capability
This broader mix suggests IFA 2026 will be one of the most commercially relevant editions for retailers, distributors, and category buyers seeking fresh product pipelines for 2027 ranges.
📈 Why This Matters for the Trade
IFA’s strengthened appliance platform arrives at a pivotal moment for the sector:
- Retailers are recalibrating assortments after two years of uneven demand across laundry and cooling.
- Consumers are trading up in cooking and refrigeration, favouring premium finishes and integrated solutions.
- SDA remains the growth engine, with high‑margin impulse categories outperforming traditional white goods.
A reinforced exhibitor base means more opportunities for:
- Range‑building
- Exclusive channel partnerships
- Early access to 2027 innovation cycles
- Cross‑category merchandising strategies
For buyers and merchandisers, Berlin looks set to deliver one of the most strategically valuable floors in recent memory.
🔍 What to Watch at IFA 2026
Expect strong attention on:
- Next‑gen heat‑pump dryers
- Ultra‑efficient bottom‑mount refrigeration
- Induction platforms with adaptive cooking intelligence
- SDA products designed for compact living
- Ventilation systems integrating air‑quality monitoring
IFA’s organisers have also hinted at expanded experience zones, giving brands more room to demonstrate real‑world use cases—an increasingly important factor for SDA and premium cooking appliances.
📝 Final Word
IFA 2026 is shaping up to be a landmark year for the appliance sector. With a reinforced exhibitor line‑up and renewed focus on innovation, Berlin is once again positioning itself as the essential destination for anyone shaping the future of white goods.
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across the halls include:
- Energy‑efficiency leadership — Manufacturers are preparing new A‑class laundry and cooling platforms aligned with tightening EU regulations.
- Connectivity that actually matters — Not just app‑control, but meaningful diagnostics, usage optimisation, and cross‑brand interoperability.
- Premium built‑in expansion — European and Asian brands are investing heavily in induction, downdraft ventilation, and modular refrigeration.
- SDA innovation — Ice‑cream makers, air fryers, multi‑cookers, and compact beverage appliances continue to surge, driven by TikTok‑friendly formats and lifestyle shifts.
🏭 Major Brands Returning in Force
While the official exhibitor list is still being finalised, early announcements point to a reinforced presence from:
- German and Italian premium built‑in specialists
- Korean and Chinese global manufacturers expanding European footprint
- Fast‑growth SDA brands targeting Gen‑Z and millennial households
- Component suppliers and OEM/ODM partners, reflecting the growing importance of behind‑the‑scenes manufacturing capability
This broader mix suggests IFA 2026 will be one of the most commercially relevant editions for retailers, distributors, and category buyers seeking fresh product pipelines for 2027 ranges.
📈 Why This Matters for the Trade
IFA’s strengthened appliance platform arrives at a pivotal moment for the sector:
- Retailers are recalibrating assortments after two years of uneven demand across laundry and cooling.
- Consumers are trading up in cooking and refrigeration, favouring premium finishes and integrated solutions.
- SDA remains the growth engine, with high‑margin impulse categories outperforming traditional white goods.
A reinforced exhibitor base means more opportunities for:
- Range‑building
- Exclusive channel partnerships
- Early access to 2027 innovation cycles
- Cross‑category merchandising strategies
For buyers and merchandisers, Berlin looks set to deliver one of the most strategically valuable floors in recent memory.
🔍 What to Watch at IFA 2026
Expect strong attention on:
- Next‑gen heat‑pump dryers
- Ultra‑efficient bottom‑mount refrigeration
- Induction platforms with adaptive cooking intelligence
- SDA products designed for compact living
- Ventilation systems integrating air‑quality monitoring
IFA’s organisers have also hinted at expanded experience zones, giving brands more room to demonstrate real‑world use cases—an increasingly important factor for SDA and premium cooking appliances.
📝 Final Word
IFA 2026 is shaping up to be a landmark year for the appliance sector. With a reinforced exhibitor line‑up and renewed focus on innovation, Berlin is once again positioning itself as the essential destination for anyone shaping the future of white goods.
