By Keri Algar
SYDNEY, NSW: The benefits of global expansion have become apparent as the international sales revenue for Breville in 2010 exceeded the Australian sales revenue by $3.5 million.
In an address to shareholders the chairman and CEO of the Breville Group have both stated their satisfaction with the company’s international performance and retail penetration.
There has been good progress in strengthening the Breville brand internationally, particularly the expansion of the distribution footprint and product range in North America, according to chairman John Schmoll.
“Over the past year we have again made good progress on our journey to transform the Breville Group from being a homewares and electrical business to a truly international, electrical focussed company,” said Schmoll to shareholders at their Annual General Meeting in Sydney today.
“Our core strategy and focus remains building the Breville brand globally by designing, developing and marketing innovative products to meet the changing needs of consumers and leveraging these across multiple geographies.”
Breville CEO Stephen Audsley said that the geographic diversity of Breville’s business is a significant and valuable asset.
“Our International business performed particularly well and the performance of the North American business was a stand out,” said Audsley.
“The performance of the Australian business was pleasing, with further growth in profits, despite a slower second half of the financial year which was impacted by higher interest rates and softer consumer demand. Market share was maintained by both the Breville and Kambrook brands, driven by a strong pipeline of new product launches.”