A BRAND FOR THE FUTURE

The number of European households with a fitted kitchen is low enough to allow for attractive sales growth potential.

Prospects in the fitted kitchen market are currently very high. Driven by positive media coverage, the latest trends in interior design have transformed the kitchen into a true hub of activity within the home. It is the heart of the home. Nowadays, it is considered to be the cornerstone of the home, a place conducive to family life and well-being. An increasing number of Europeans invest time and money in designing, improving and even renovating their kitchen.

With offices in France and Germany, SALM (Alsatian Furniture Company) boasts four production sites and employs nearly 1,400 people.

As the undisputed leader among manufacturers of fitted kitchen units, SALM generated revenues across France and from exports of €653 million in 2009 and €738 million in 2010. This 13% growth bears testament to our ability to keep pace with the changing face of the market and the rock-solid foundations of our group and its network of dealers.

Schmidt is committed to sustainable development. We are the leading and only kitchen manufacturer to achieve four-way certification:
 Quality (ISO 9001)
 Environment (ISO 14001)
 Health & Safety (OHSAS 18001)
 The NF Environnement label
In 2010, we also received PEFC certification (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification).

Schmidt is a CSR-oriented company. We continually strive to strike the right balance between environmental protection, respect for society and economic development.

Some examples...
 100% of production waste is treated.
 All timber used is taken from sustainably-managed forests (PEFC).
 A new plant has been created in Alsace, leading to new jobs.
 Timber offcuts are recycled for use in wood-fuelled heating systems.
 Our employees have access to a company nursery and undergo continual training.
 The fruits of our success are shared with charitable organisations.

Further details...

In 1959, Hubert Schmidt founded a family business in Alsace, manufacturing and marketing kitchen dressers. SALM, or the Alsatian Furniture Company as it was known, quickly specialised in designing fitted kitchens. The exclusive Schmidt brand policy was launched in 1989. In 1992, the group created another brand to distribute its vast range of products and services, spawning the Cuisinella network. Schmidt moved into the high-end, yet affordable segment, while Cuisinella focused its sights on young homeowners.

The company is still run by the founder’s grandchildren, boasting 600 showrooms across 25 countries. Customers can draw on our 50 years of experience and expertise, thereby securing our status as the market leader.

Further details...

Present in 25 countries, Schmidt has a network of nearly 500 stores around the world. Schmidt is France’s best-known kitchen brand with a global brand awareness rate of 75% [1]. Driven by our brand, you can increase visitor numbers to your showroom and boost your sales figures.

You can reap the rewards of Schmidt’s annual promotional campaigns, fuelled by a series of advertisements. A familiar face on TV screens for the last 20 years, our group has been the leading multi-channel investor since 1995 in France. In a bid to put your sales in the fast lane throughout the year, we also offer catalogues, campaigns to motivate your sales force, direct marketing operations, email campaigns targeting leads, and so on.

Close to a million web users visited the Schmidt website in 2010, with peak visitor levels occurring during our promotional campaigns.

[1] Global brand awareness is inferred from answers to the following question: "Which kitchen brands do you know, even if you know them just by name?"