LAICA’s 50-Year Celebration

Strix Group PLC

18 July 2024

 

                                                                                   

REACH

18 July 2024

Strix Group Plc

("Strix", the "Group" or the "Company")

LAICA's 50-Year Celebration

The Strix Group portfolio brand celebrates milestone anniversary

Strix Group Plc (AIM: KETL), the global leader in the design, manufacture and supply of kettle safety controls and other complementary water temperature management components, marks a significant milestone today as it celebrates the 50th anniversary of its portfolio brand LAICA S.p.A. ("LAICA"), the Italian company focussed on water purification and the sale of small domestic appliances ("SDAs") for personal health and wellness. 

Established in Vicenza in 1974 by the Moretto family, LAICA has evolved over the past five decades from a small SDA company in Italy to a globally recognised company specialising in water treatment and small appliances. Under the stewardship of the Moretto family's next generation, LAICA has embarked on a journey of growth and expansion, establishing branches in Europe and Asia and building a robust global sales network. Committed to developing top-tier, technologically advanced, and reliable products, LAICA has also championed sustainability, human rights, and quality of life, setting the foundation for a promising future. 

Strix, known for its expertise in kettle safety controls, heating and temperature controls, steam management, and water filtration technologies, places a strong emphasis on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles. Acquiring LAICA in 2020, Strix recognised the alignment of LAICA's objectives and values with its own, and since then, certification for ISO14001 and ISO45001 have been achieved, and a new control model following the broad Italian law "231" has been introduced. The strategic addition of LAICA has allowed Strix to broaden its water and SDA divisions, strengthen its presence in the health and wellness market, and leverage unique capabilities to drive innovation and growth.

By integrating LAICA into its brand portfolio, Strix now has an established footprint in Europe, as well as a manufacturing facility in Italy . LAICA also provides access to new revenue streams and gives Strix the opportunity to leverage its global sales and marketing infrastructure to market LAICA's products and solutions to a wider audience. This partnership underscores Strix's ongoing commitment to sustainability and innovation in delivering high-quality products for the benefit of consumers worldwide.

Riccardo Dolcetta, Managing Director of LAICA S.p.A. and Strix Consumer Goods, said: "As we commemorate our 50th anniversary, we reflect with pride on the remarkable journey we have shared with our dedicated employees, valued clients, trusted partners, and supportive friends. Our heartfelt appreciation goes out to all who have contributed to our mission of enhancing home life and quality of living. As the Group's European centre of excellence for new product development, our employees in particular, are the cornerstone of our success, and we owe our achievements to their unwavering commitment. With gratitude, we eagerly anticipate the next fifty years of pioneering innovation." 

Mark Bartlett, Chief Executive Officer of Strix Group plc, said: "It is with great pleasure that we celebrate this momentous occasion alongside LAICA. Collaborating with LAICA has been a rewarding experience as we work together towards our shared objectives of sustainability and technological advancement for a better world, ensuring wellness and safe water for all. We extend our sincere thanks to the LAICA team for their integral role in Strix's accomplishments thus far. Looking ahead, we are excited to continue our partnership in exploring fresh and inventive ways to meet the needs of our customers."    

For further enquiries, please contact:

Strix Group Plc	[phone]
Mark Bartlett, CEO
Clare Foster, CFO
Zeus (Nominated Advisor and Joint Broker)	[phone]
Nick Cowles / Jordan Warburton (Investment Banking) Dominic King (Corporate Broking)
Stifel Nicolaus Europe Limited (Joint Broker)	[phone]
Matthew Blawat / Francis North
IFC Advisory Limited (Financial PR and IR)	[phone]
Graham Herring / Tim Metcalfe / Florence Chandler

About Strix

Founded in 1982, Isle of Man based Strix is a global leader in the design, manufacture and supply of kettle safety controls and other components and devices involving water heating and temperature control, steam management and water filtration.

Strix's core product range comprises a variety of safety controls for small domestic appliances, primarily kettles. Kettle safety controls require precision engineering and intricate knowledge of material properties in order to repeatedly function correctly.

Strix has built up market leading capability and know-how, expanding into complementary products and technologies. The Group's brands include Aqua Optima, LAICA and Billi providing our customers with market leading water solutions on a global basis.  

About LAICA

LAICA is committed to enhancing everyday life and improving the wellbeing at the heart of each family. For the last 50 years, the brand has been working to make each of these worlds a little brighter through sustainable filtration solutions and innovative products.

Established in Vicenza in 1974 by the Moretto family and with a proud Italian heritage, LAICA specialises in high quality small household appliances for personal health and wellness and water purification equipment. The company's success is based on its dedication to high quality, safety and product design.

 

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