Sinks and taps specialist Blanco has announced an increase in turnover in what it has called a year of transformation.
In the 2022 financial year, turnover increased 2% to €493 million from what were already record sales for the company over the previous year (2021). And although the company benefited from what it called the ‘cocooning effect’ of the post-Covid boom in construction and renovations, it said that the second half of 2022 was particularly challenging because of prevailing global conditions.
Sales in its home market of Germany were up 1% to €167m, while international sales were up 2% to €326m.
Chief executive Frank Gförer said: “The 2022 financial year was a year of transformation for us. We used it to set a strategic and operational course for the future and market the Blanco UNIT as a high-grade system unit.”
Against a background of the war in Ukraine and the disrupted supply chain in procurement markets and drastically increased energy and transport costs, Blanco decided in spring 2020 to withdraw from its operational business in Russia and realign its business with a clear focus on the core regions of EMEA, North America and Asia Pacific. It also implemented mid-year price increases to respond to its rising costs as well as implementing measures to save costs and energy in production and logistics.
To step up its marketing of the Blanco UNIT, the company rolled out the Blanco Space concept to provide retailers with a wide range of UNIT modules and materials for showrooms. It also staged a Europe-wide dealer roadshow in seven countries as well as running social media campaigns. It also attended major industry trade fairs in Germany and in international markets.
In 2022 it also launched comprehensive digitalisation projects in production, logistics and administration and introduced a digital warehouse management system in the UK.
Blanco also increased the production capacity for its Silgranit sinks at its plants in Canada and the Czech Republic.
Looking ahead, Gförer said that the company expected modest growth in 2023, given the prevailing global conditions. He said: “Nevertheless, we are doing everything we can to inspire people to equip their new kitchens with the Blanco UNIT to make life simpler and better with convenient added benefits such as refined drinking water for every taste, digital ordering services for consumables and handy utensils for drinking, preparation and cleaning.”