Alusid Limited (“Alusid” or the “Company”) has reached a significant milestone in its European roll out plans following an agreement between Dutch sustainable materials specialist FRONT Materials BV (or “Front”) and Tegelgroep Nederland (“Tegelgroep” or the “Wholesaler”), a leading wholesaler across Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg (“Benelux”). Frontier IP holds a 36.16 per cent equity stake in the Company.
The partnership will initially see Alusid’s tiles made widely available in the Netherlands. Tegelgroep has already started stocking Alusid’s products and will sell them directly to businesses across the country. More broadly, the Wholesaler also sells to more than 600 retail outlets in Benelux. It is part of BME Group, which generates more than €5.5 billion a year in revenues and operates across Germany, Switzerland, Spain and Portugal, as well as Benelux.
The first range to be stocked by Tegelgroep is Alusid’s range of sustainable Mas floor tiles, with initial distribution focused on the Netherlands. Alusid announced a distribution deal with Front last year.
The stocking order of Mas also marks the start of a partnership between Front and Tegelgroep Nederland under their sustainability label CERALUTION, the launch of which will be at Material District in Utrecht from the 4th of March to the 6th of March.
Alusid completed a pre-IPO funding round last year and news that it is now generating sales in Europe provides a further boost as the Company continues to explore the potential for an Initial Public Offering.
The Company’s proprietary manufacturing processes typically use more than 95 per cent recycled materials and offer a significantly lower carbon footprint than traditional ceramics. Existing customers include Starbucks EMEA and Topps Tiles plc, which now markets two Alusid-made ranges across its UK retail chain. Parkside Architectural Tiles, the commercial arm of Topps Tiles, recently launched the Alusid-made Luca range, the first to use the Company’s own recycled glaze and Alusid’s most recycled product to date at 99 per cent recycled content.
Falko Koster, Tegelgroep Nederland Commercial Development Director, said:
Sustainable innovation is a key driver for us. By turning innovation into strong, scalable business concepts for our customers, we aim to remain a frontrunner in the market. This partnership with Front and Alusid is a powerful example of that strategy in action.
Ward Massa, Front Materials CEO, said:
Our collaboration with Tegelgroep in the Netherlands is an important step in making these sustainable products widely available with fast delivery and excellent service.
Alasdair Bremner, Alusid’s CEO, said:
Having Tegelgroep place a stocking order at the point of launch is a real milestone for Alusid. Holding stock is a meaningful commitment — it’s working capital, warehousing and sales effort — and it shows real confidence in Mas and in the demand we’re building together. We’re proud to be launching with Front and Tegelgroep at Material District and excited to support designers and specifiers across the Netherlands.
Frontier IP Chief Executive Neil Crabb said:
We are delighted with this agreement that Front have managed to secure for Alusid. The commitment from Tegelgroep demonstrates the global appeal of Alusid’s sustainable, low-carbon tiles and the potential they have to make serious inroads into markets internationally. The Company is an attractive proposition to investors as it explores options for an IPO.