Spectrum brands

The company is headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin, USA and employs approximately 12,000 people in 55 countries. Spectrum Brands products are sold through 25 leading retailers worldwide and are available in more than one million stores in approximately 140 countries.

It all started with Varta. In 1904, the VARTA company was founded with the aim of producing small portable batteries. Between the 1930s and 1940s, Rayovac patented the first wearable hearing aid and the company was renamed the Rayovac Company, Remington introduced the first electric shaver called the Close Shaver and shortly after that the first shaver with two heads – the Remington Dual. This was of course followed by a shaver with several heads – the Foursome. Also between 1940 and 1960, innovations were discovered in the field of hearing aids, batteries and lamps, as in 1941 the steel Sportsman lamp became famous on the market, and in 1955 the first Lektronic cordless shaver.

History

• • 1887

1887 – The beginning

Founder A. Müller launches Büsche & Müller

• • 1893

1893 – Illumination of the Arctic

Polar explorer Fridtjof Nansen sets out to explore the Arctic Ocean. On board the ‘Fram’: AFA batteries, the predecessor of the Varta.

• • The 20s

The 20s of the 20th century – The arrival of the portable radio

This treat for the ears appeared on the market in the middle 20s. The ideal batteries to power the radio quickly flood the market – the portable radio is born!

• • 30s

1933 – Rayovac patents the first vacuum tube wearable hearing aid.

1937 – Remington introduces the first Close Shaver electric shaver.

• • 40s

1940 – “Two heads are better than one!” Remington introduces the first shaver with two heads Remington Dual.

1941 – Remington introduces the first Foursome multi-head shaver.

• • 50s

50s of the 20th century – small batteries with huge potential

How to be big when you are small! The first button batteries made life easier – ushering in a new era for people with hearing aids and watchmakers.

• • 60s

60s of the 20th century – The right color, the right battery

Which battery do I need? The 60s bring 3 colors – yellow, red and blue, which indicate 3 different energy needs. It couldn’t be simpler!

• • 1969 – VARTA on the Moon

A small step for a man, a giant leap for mankind, in 1969 Neil Armstrong took the first steps on the moon – accompanied by VARTA batteries.

• • 70s

1975 – Remington presents an innovation in shaving – the Soft Touch system with flexible meshes

• • 80s

80s of the 20th century – Three times more power

VARTA begins production of alkaline batteries. Innovation: about 3x more power than a conventional zinc-carbon battery.

• • 21st century

In transition to 20. the 21st century the company acquires many new brands and in 2005 is renamed Spectrum Brands

• • 2003

Remington introduces Titan value-added shavers

• • 2004 – Fast, faster, in 15 minutes

End endless charging: VARTA Consumer stuns the market with the 15-minute charger – the fastest battery charging system at the time.

• • 2008

Rayovac Hearing Aid Battery introduces Rayovac mercury-free hearing aid batteries.

• • 2010

Spectrum Brands joins Russell Hobbs and with it the venerable ‘family’ of brands such as Black & Decker, George Foreman, Littermaid and Toastmaster.

• • 2011 and 2012

2011 and 2012 Spectrum Brands also acquires the FURminator® brands, Stanley Black & Decker’s Hardware Home Improvement Group.

• • 2012

Relaunch of VARTA Consumer

VARTA sets new standards with improved product performance, which it presents to consumers in a bold way.

• • 2013

Kwikset® Kevo™ introduces revolutionary smartphone door unlocking technology and Touch-to-Open™ technology.

Our mission

Spectrum Brands is a fast-growing, global company with a very diverse range of products, which is also planning to progress and grow in the future. We will continue with the winning combination of strategic acquisitions and organic growth of the company.

We want to continue to gain strength with the brands we currently market and ensure growth by focusing on innovative technology, design and packaging of our products and marketing strategies.

We intend to globally align IT infrastructure, distribution channels, purchasing power and operational structure with the aim of increasing efficiency and expanding as profitably as possible.

Brands

Spectrum Brands is a fast-growing, global company with a very diverse range of products, which is also planning to progress and grow in the future. We will continue with the winning combination of strategic acquisitions and organic growth of the company.