Alba (electronics brand)

Last updated

Alba
Product typeElectronics
Owner J Sainsbury plc
Introduced1917
Discontinued2022
Previous owners Home Retail Group (2008 to 2016)
Harvard International Ltd/Alba Group (1982 to 2008)
ALBA (Radio & Television) Ltd. (1960 to 1982)

Alba was a British consumer electronics brand and a former company that designed budget electronics. [1] Its origins date to 1917 when it became active in the radio and TV industry as A.J. Balcombe Ltd. Under new ownership in the 1980s, its parent company was known as Alba plc and it owned and marketed numerous other brands, including Bush (which it acquired in 1988), becoming popular in the low-end market in the UK. [2] The Alba Group later also consisted of further acquired brands Goodmans, Grundig, and home appliance brands such as Breville and Dirt Devil. The Alba Group was bought by the Home Retail Group, the parent company of the retailer Argos in 2008, who in turn was taken over by J Sainsbury plc in 2016. [1] The Alba brand was quietly dropped by Sainsbury's in 2022 and replaced by its more upmarket sister brand Bush. [1] [3]

Contents

History

Original Alba company

Alba-branded reel-to-reel tape recorder made in Japan Alba R20 tape recorder Alba R20 assembled (crop).jpg
Alba-branded reel-to-reel tape recorder made in Japan

The name Alba originated as a trademark used on radio and television produced by A.J. Balcombe Ltd. The company was formed in 1917 or 1918 by Alfred Balcombe. Alba began by manufacturing radio sets from 1922, from a factory at Tabernacle Street in London. It was a significant contributor to the development of the British radio & TV industry. [4]

In the 1960s they became Alba Group, and made only low-cost consumer products. [4] [5]

Alba went into receivership in June 1982. [6]

Alba plc

An Alba "Aquaman" personal stereo cassette player Alba Aquaman personal stereo cassette player.jpg
An Alba "Aquaman" personal stereo cassette player

Following the demise of the original company, the Alba name was bought in 1982 by Harvard International Ltd (formerly Harris Overseas Ltd), [7] an import business founded by John Harris. [8] In August 1987, Harvard International renamed itself to Alba plc [7] and was floated on the London Stock Exchange under its new name. [7] Alba plc bought Bush Radio in 1988 and then Goodmans Industries in 1994. [9] Harris was succeeded as CEO by his son Daniel Harris in 1992. [8]

Logo of Alba plc Alba plc.png
Logo of Alba plc

Along with its own Alba brand and Bush and Goodmans audio visual products, the company also made other products including as Hinari (home appliances), Roadster (portable entertainment), Breville (home appliances), Power Devil (DIY tools) and others. [10] Alba plc also produced electronic products under licence for other companies or individuals, including Ministry of Sound (audio products), Antony Worrall Thompson, Cable and Wireless, Carl Lewis, JCB, Ministry of Sound, Nicky Clarke and NTL. [7]

Alba itself did not own factories but contracted manufacturing out to the Far East. [11] TVs sold under the Alba and Bush brands were manufactured by Vestel in Turkey, as of 1999. [12]

As of 2006, the Alba group was selling one million TVs, two million MP3 players and a million microwaves in the UK annually, and had product managers and designers from around the world. [10]

The company sold its leisure division to private equity firm Rutland Partners in August 2007 for £51.5 million. This included Breville, Hinari and Bush Domestic Appliances as well as some licensed brands. [13] [14] The company sold its share of the Grundig brand for £25.5 million in December 2007, [15] although it retained the UK distribution rights until 2010.

Under the Home Retail Group and Sainsbury's

In November 2008, the Alba and Bush names were purchased by Home Retail Group, the then parent company of retailers Homebase and Argos, for £15.25 million. [16] As a result, the Alba group (the former owner) reverted to its previous [7] name, Harvard International, the following year. [17] Products bearing the Alba brand name were exclusively sold at Argos.

In September 2016, the supermarket chain Sainsbury's completed its acquisition of Home Retail Group, [18] bringing Argos, along with the Alba and Bush brands, under its ownership.

The Alba brand was dropped by Sainsbury's in 2022 and replaced by the Bush brand. [1] [3] However, Harvard International still owns Alba Australia. [19]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Martin Pratt. "Should you buy a Bush, JVC, Logik or Technika TV?". Which. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
  2. ↑ https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/alba-looks-in-better-shape-1257892.html
  3. 1 2 "Never mind the badge on the front - who REALLY made your TV set?". The Yorkshire Post. 5 September 2016.
  4. 1 2 "Balcombe Ltd., , London manufacturer in GB, radio technology". www.radiomuseum.org.
  5. ↑ "Balcombe Ltd., , London from 'Add-on' S1 to Alba 6401". www.radiomuseum.org.
  6. ↑ "A. J. Balcombe - Graces Guide". www.gracesguide.co.uk.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 "ALBA plc, the group holder". Roadstar (ALBA plc). Archived from the original on 19 April 2008. [GROUP BRANDS include] Alba, Goodmans, Bush, Grundig, Nicky Clarke, Roadstar, JCB, Carl Lewis, Power Devil, NTL, Cable & Wireless, Bush, Betacom, Antony Worral Thompson, Answercall, MOS, Breville, Viva [GROUP HISTORY] 1982 - Harris Overseas Limited renamed Harvard International Ltd, Alba Radio acquired [..] 1987 - Harvard International renamed Alba plc. Alba plc floated on London Stock Exchange
  8. 1 2 Tessler, Gloria (1 January 2021). "John Harris, CBE". The Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved 30 January 2025.
  9. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20030919003155/http://www.albaplc.com/PDF/Corp%20Pres%20new.pdf
  10. 1 2 Advertiser (28 March 2006). "UK appliance giant Alba plans massive Australian expansion". Appliance Retailer. Retrieved 29 January 2025.
  11. ↑ https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/analysis-and-features/alba-s-rapid-reactions-breathe-life-into-brands-of-yesteryear-108954.html
  12. ↑ "Wall to wall web for your home". The Guardian. 25 November 1999. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 30 January 2025.
  13. ↑ Blakely, Rhys (6 August 2007). "Alba sells leisure division for £52m". www.thetimes.com. Retrieved 29 January 2025.
  14. ↑ WalesOnline (28 November 2008). "Argos buys well-known electronic brands Alba and Bush". Wales Online. Retrieved 29 January 2025.
  15. ↑ "Design News". Design News. 19 December 2007. Archived from the original on 7 July 2011. Retrieved 19 July 2018.
  16. ↑ "Argos buys Alba and Bush brandnames". 27 November 2008. Archived from the original on 23 October 2014. Argos has acquired the intellectual property rights to the Alba and Bush trademarks from consumer electronics distributor Alba, that will now change its name to Harvard.
  17. ↑ "Alba plc : Change of Name to Harvard International plc". 31 March 2009. Archived from the original on 1 June 2021. Following the sale of its Alba and Bush brands, and in accordance with a condition of that sale, Alba plc will be changing its name to Harvard International plc, with effect from tomorrow (1 April 2009).
  18. ↑ "Sainsbury's acquisition of Argos parent company now complete". Retail Gazette. 2 September 2016. Archived from the original on 8 December 2016. Retrieved 2 September 2016. Sainsbury's has confirmed its acquisition of Home Retail Group is now complete.
  19. ↑ "Harvard International Limtied". harvardltd.com. Retrieved 29 January 2025.
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