Masters 2013: ‘Made in Britain’ helps Glen Dimplex exports
COOKER manufacturer Glen Dimplex Home Appliances is continuing to expand its export markets, making great play of the fact its goods are made in Britain.
The company won in the North West Exporter category at the Business Masters yesterday and told the audience it was pushing into new markets, particularly in Australia and Russia.
Commercial manager John Brennan said: “One of the things that we’ve found is that quality is associated with British manufacturing.”
Four years ago the Prescot-based group, which sells Belling and Stoves cookers, and Lec fridges, brought production back to the UK.
“The main benefit is quality,” said Mr Brennan. “We’re masters of our own destiny. The one thing we’ve heard from everyone today is pride and I think for manufacturers to have that control and pride in workmanship was the right decision.”
GDHA, which has around 1,000 staff at its Merseyside base, is the UK’s only major cooker manufacturer and it has championed UK manufacturing through a ‘Made in Britain’ campaign.
In the year to March 2012 the group made profits of nearly £7m on sales of £117m. It says a “huge” appetite for British-made products has led to increased UK sales and expansion in overseas markets which now account for 15% of sales.
The runners-up in this category were Jaguar Land Rover and Haydock security barrier specialist ATG Access. The award was sponsored by accountancy firm Baker Tilly.
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