Investing in South Africa

German bathroom brand enters SA

29 January 2009

Hansgrohe, a leading international producer of kitchen and bathroom fixtures and showers, has announced its entry into the South African market through the acquisition of privately held local firm Personalised Bathrooms.

Personalised Bathrooms was previously an independent market partner to Hansgrohe, and will now be managed as an independent distribution company trading as Hansgrohe South Africa, with its headquarters in Johannesburg.

"In taking this step, we're going to boost our market presence substantially in South Africa," Hansgrohe CEO Siegfried Gänßlen said in a statement this week.

Innovation and design leaders

Hansgrohe has selected Anthony Mederer, a former director at Personalised Bathrooms and son of company founder Heinz Mederer, to take over as the general manager of what will become Hansgrohe's 29th subsidiary.

"Hansgrohe is known throughout the industry across the globe as one of the innovation and design leaders, and is perceived in South Africa as the premium brand for top-quality fixtures and showers," Gänßlen said.

"We will invest in the South African market with the clear objective of recording disproportionately strong growth, to develop the number one import brand and to become the market leader."

Continuing partnership

He said the long-term basis for this objective was to continue the partnership with the experienced Personalised Bathrooms team, with which the company's market share in the country had grown considerably over the last 14 years.

SAinfo reporter



	Hansgrohe aims to grow from the number one import brand in kitchen and bathroom fixtures and showers to become a market leader (Photo: Hansgrohe South Africa)