A consumer goods giant with its headquarters in Stoke-on-Trent has acquired the firm which invented the first electric kettle.
RKW, the trading division of Sutton Venture Group (SVG), has taken over Swan Products, a small domestic appliances and housewares brand.
Swan, which dates back to the 1920s, will be integrated into the business, where it will benefit from the group’s centralised services and global infrastructure.
The acquisition comes not long after RKW, which has its head office in Stone and a distribution centre in Stone, bought historic ceramics brand Wade Ceramics out of administration, with the promise of 100 jobs, as reported by Daily Focus.
SVG Chairman Rob Sutton said: “I am delighted to welcome Swan into the RKW family of Great British brands. RKW has been a key partner for Swan and the acquisition fits perfectly with our strategy of building British brands into major Global players through our international network of supply partners and customers.
“We have a talented team and an exciting roadmap of innovation and new product developments which will help propel Swan to become a leading brand in the housewares market.
“I would like to thank Rob Wileman and Paul Simpson for their work developing the Swan brand and wish them all the best for the future.”
Swan Products Managing Director Rob Wileman said: “I would like to thank Rob and Sue Sutton for their help and support in building Swan into a strong, recognised brand and wish them every success in the future.”
RKW, established in 1989, employs over 600 staff across its offices in the UK, Hong Kong, India and China and has a group turnover of over £200 million.
The firm designs, manufactures and distributes small domestic appliances and housewares for leading brands including Black and Decker, Lavazza and Morphy Richards, selling to retailers such as Currys, Tesco and Amazon.
