Tens of thousands of people with Fagor built-in cookers, fridges and other kitchen appliances are looking increasingly likely to see their warranties cancelled as the brand’s UK distributer went into liquidation tonight.
The company has been facing an uncertain future since late 2013 when its immediate parent company in France and ultimate parent in Spain, part of the Basque-based Mondragon cooperative, entered administration.
According to a statement released by joint liquidators James Cowper LLP. De Dietrich Kitchen Appliances is to be placed into creditors voluntary liquidation, and the closure of the distributor business of De Dietrich and Fagor kitchen appliances, comes after Cevital Group – which bought FagorBrandt brand in the Spring – decided not to acquire the UK company, preferring to distribute products via commercial partnerships.
De Dietrich Kitchen Appliances, based in Basingstoke, marketed the Fagor brand and more upmarket De Dietrich brand and handled both brands warranties but the French parent company went into administration and a buyer found for the UK operations only wants to take on the De Dietrich division, seen as a more premium brand suited with a loyal customer base, which is believed to be viewed as more reslient to turbulent market conditions than the lesser Fagor brand.
This means that people with faulty Fagor equipment will now have to arrange their own repairs and apply for reimbursement from the liquidator, James Cowper LLP. They would join a queue of creditors such as the French parent company and suppliers, and so should only expect partial repayment.
‘An announcement about the appointment of a new commercial partner to undertake the distribution of De Dietrich products is expected shortly,’ the statement from James Cowper LLP said. The accountancy firm said it has been appointed as joint liquidators, and has been instructed to place the Basingstoke-based business into creditors voluntary liquidation.
Peter Whalley of James Cowper said: “Although the announcement about a commercial partner is awaited, we expect that warranties given to customers with De Dietrich appliances will continue. Unfortunately, the warranties on Fagor appliances cannot be honoured in full and those affected by this will need to make claims in the liquidation in due course. We will be publishing further guidance in relation to both De Dietrich and Fagor warranty claimants next week.”
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