With new managing director.
Sub-Zero Group has outlined its strategy to open a local subsidiary for the Sub-Zero and Wolf business with Andrew Mumford named as the future managing director of the company.
In a letter recently distributed to its Australian retail trading partners, including the Winning Group, Victorian retailers E&S Trading and South Australian retailers Spartan Electrical, Sub-Zero Group president and CEO Jim Bakke outlined his plans to distribute the products directly from 1 July 2016.
“We are pleased to announce that Sub-Zero Group, Inc. headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin plans to distribute its products directly in the Australian marketplace beginning 1 July, 2016. This change represents a long-term commitment to the Australian market, and to the growth of our brands and business in that region,” Bakke said in his letter.
“To support the Australian market, a new entity, Sub-Zero Group Australia Pty Ltd, has been established as an affiliated distributorship and Andrew Mumford will be appointed its Managing Director. The new entity joins the ranks of six existing company-owned distributorships located in major markets throughout the USA and supported at the corporate level yet operated autonomously in each individual region.
L to R: John Winning, Andrew Mumford, Steve Dunlap, Jim Bakke, Rob Sinclair and Con Tsoutouras at a Sub-Zero cocktail party held during EuroCucina in Milan earlier this year.
“A team from Sub-Zero Group, Inc. headquarters will travel to Australia in early June to meet employees and visit trade partners to ensure a smooth transition.
“Sub-Zero truly appreciates the ongoing support that Paul Bridgeford and the dedicated Multyflex staff have provided throughout the launch and growth of our brands in Australia over the past seven years. The cooperation between our organisations has been outstanding, and we’re excited about the future of our brands in Australia.”
Paul Bridgeford, in a separate letter, thanked his retailers for their assistance with growing the brand in the local market.
“Thanks to your support, the Sub-Zero and Wolf brands are now well-established in the Australian market and positioned as the premium luxury kitchen appliances,” Bridgeford said.
“With the changing nature of the appliance industry, the Bridgeford family believe it is timely to effect the sale of the assets of the Multyflex, Sub-Zero Wolf Australian distribution business to the Sub-Zero Group. As of July 1, the Sub-Zero Group plan to distribute their brands directly in the Australian market, operating from the Bank House showroom and office.
“We have been fortunate to successfully introduce Sub-Zero and Wolf to Australia over the past seven years and want to thank you for your tremendous support.
“I also want to acknowledge and sincerely thank the dedicated team at Multyflex, who have so enthusiastically joined us on the journey and worked hard across all aspects of this growing business, maintaining our strong ethos of customer service.
“The business is well founded as we depart and you should be encouraged by the commitment of Sub-Zero Group Australia to continue the growth experienced in the past years.”