With strong start to 2016.
De’Longhi Australia CEO, Paolo Albertoni, who oversees De’Longhi, Kenwood, Braun, Nespresso and Nescafe, talks to Appliance Retailer about the yea ahead, opportunities and threats in the market and his favourite product.
How has the first half of 2016 been for your business?
The first quarter (January to March) for us was a good quarter with the performance varying slightly between brands and categories but we have definitively had a very strong start of the ‘Comfort’ season, steady growth in ‘Fully Automatic’ and a good performance in ‘Kitchen’ machines.
What are your predictions for the second half of the year?
The predictions for the remainder of the year are for another ‘interesting’ year. The competitive environment is fierce at present and therefore to achieve success it is a requirement to be absolutely spotless throughout the full consumer experience.
What opportunities do you see for the electrical retailing industry?
The major opportunity is to continue to innovate and offer products that attract the consumer emotionally and not only functionally.
What threats are currently present in the industry?
The major lost opportunity that I see more than a real threat is the lost potential of a perfect execution between leading and innovative suppliers and retail partners; sometimes a better coordinated effort between the investment of key suppliers in innovation and key retailers could lead to a much better result for everyone: the suppliers, the retailers and, most importantly, the end consumers.
What is your favourite product for 2016 so far?
I have two favourite products for 2016 so far: the first is our new Chef Sense colour collection, a true masterpiece and a clear example of great combination of performance, style and emotion; the second is our recently launched flagship fully automatic coffee machine, the Primadonna Elite, a machine that offers a totally customisable experience, the true ability to replicate the barista experience at home and the first for De’Longhi to be connected via an app.