Anniversary: The Braun Brand Turns 90

KRONBERG, Germany, January 31, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Braun, the internationally leading manufacturer of small electric appliances is celebrating its 90-year company anniversary on February 1, 2011. Founded by Max Braun in 1921, Braun today is a globally successful brand and the world market leader in the foil shaver, epilator and handblender segments.

    (Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20110131/431921-a )

    (Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20110131/431921-b )

Braun looks back on an eventful and fortuitous history: Artur and Erwin Braun assumed the leadership of the company after the death of their father, Max Braun, in 1951. From 1955 they presided over the development of Braun Design, which remains famous to this day, introducing product icons such as the "Snow White's Coffin" and the "sixtant." The protagonists who decisively shaped the unique Braun design were Dr. Fritz Eichler and Dieter Rams. Following its acquisition in 1967 by the Gillette Company of Boston, USA, Braun increasingly conquered the foreign market. Since October 2005, Braun has belonged to The Procter & Gamble Company, based in Cincinnati, USA, and is one of the consumer goods company's top-earning brands.

Braun sees itself as well-equipped for the future, as Braun Vice President Markus Strobel explains: "The basis of Braun's success lies in the consistent realization of our core equity values. In our product development we stress pioneering innovation, premium quality, and clear, distinctive design. The consumer and his needs are the starting point of all our efforts. They are our motivation in developing new technologies of high practical value and creating products that are of reliable, enduring quality right down to the smallest detail."

These ideals are put into practice at the Consumer and Product Research Center, which has been established at the Kronberg site as part of the Research & Development department. At this state-of-the-art facility, interviews, focus groups and consumer usage tests are used to determine the needs and expectations of consumers. The findings then flow into the overall product development process, guiding in particular technical development and product design.

In this way, Braun increases its power of innovation over the long term and underscores the strategic significance of its expertise in electric appliances within the P&G group.

About Braun

Braun, a subsidiary of Procter & Gamble founded in Germany in 1921, develops and manufactures a wide variety of small domestic appliances that marry technical innovation, reliable quality and distinctive design. These range from electric shavers and beauty products to household appliances. Braun products enjoy worldwide distribution. Please visit http://www.braun.com for the latest news and in-depth information about the Braun brand.

    Contact:      Jamie Reece
                  Porter Novelli for Braun
                  +44-207-853-2355
                  [email protected]

SOURCE Braun