Alba (brand)
Encyclopedia
Alba is a British
consumer electronics manufacturing company owned by Home Retail Group. Its sister brand is Bush. Today, all Alba and Bush products are sold exclusively at Argos
.
The name Alba is formerly a trademark used on radio and television produced by A.J. Balcombe Ltd. The company was originally formed in 1917 by Alfred Balcombe, becoming known as Alba in 1960, and eventually going into receivership in June 1982. During that time, it was a significant contributor to the development of the British radio & TV industry. In 1982, it was bought by [the former] Harvard International (formerly before 1982).
The company was floated on the London Stock Exchange
in 1987 as Alba plc, buying Bush in 1988, and then Goodmans
in 1994.
Alba also produces electronic products under licence for other companies or individuals, including Antony Worrall Thompson
, Cable and Wireless, Carl Lewis
, JCB
, Ministry of Sound
, Nicky Clarke
and NTL.
The company sold its share of the Grundig
brand for £25.5m in December 2007, although it retained the UK distribution rights until 2010.
In November 2008, the Alba brand name, along with Bush, were purchased by Home Retail Group, the parent company of Homebase
and Argos
, for £15.25 million. As a result the former Alba Group was renamed to Harvard International.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
consumer electronics manufacturing company owned by Home Retail Group. Its sister brand is Bush. Today, all Alba and Bush products are sold exclusively at Argos
Argos (retailer)
Argos is the largest general-goods retailer in the United Kingdom and Ireland with over 800 stores. It is unique amongst major retailers in the UK in that it is a catalogue merchant...
.
History
It was originally called the Alba Group, and made only low-cost consumer products under its own brand name but has both founded and acquired other companies either wholly, in part or UK manufacturing rights, building it into a large company.The name Alba is formerly a trademark used on radio and television produced by A.J. Balcombe Ltd. The company was originally formed in 1917 by Alfred Balcombe, becoming known as Alba in 1960, and eventually going into receivership in June 1982. During that time, it was a significant contributor to the development of the British radio & TV industry. In 1982, it was bought by [the former] Harvard International (formerly before 1982).
The company was floated on the London Stock Exchange
London Stock Exchange
The London Stock Exchange is a stock exchange located in the City of London within the United Kingdom. , the Exchange had a market capitalisation of US$3.7495 trillion, making it the fourth-largest stock exchange in the world by this measurement...
in 1987 as Alba plc, buying Bush in 1988, and then Goodmans
Goodmans
For the Canadian law firm, see Goodmans LLPGoodmans is a British consumer electronics company which is part of Harvard International plc....
in 1994.
Alba also produces electronic products under licence for other companies or individuals, including Antony Worrall Thompson
Antony Worrall Thompson
Henry Antony Cardew Worrall Thompson is a British celebrity chef, television presenter and radio broadcaster.-Biography:...
, Cable and Wireless, Carl Lewis
Carl Lewis
Frederick Carlton "Carl" Lewis is an American former track and field athlete, who won 10 Olympic medals including 9 gold, and 10 World Championships medals, of which 8 were gold. His career spanned from 1979 when he first achieved a world ranking to 1996 when he last won an Olympic title and...
, JCB
J. C. Bamford
JCB is a global construction, demolition and agricultural equipment company headquartered in Rocester, United Kingdom. It is the world's third-largest construction equipment manufacturer. It produces over 300 types of machines, including diggers , excavators, tractors and diesel engines...
, Ministry of Sound
Ministry of Sound
Ministry of Sound London, commonly referred to as simply Ministry of Sound or MoS, is a nightclub based in London, United Kingdom and an associated record label. It was ranked fourth in the 2010 DJ Magazine top 100 clubs poll 2010. As well as the nightclub in London, there is another in Egypt and...
, Nicky Clarke
Nicky Clarke
Nicky Clarke OBE is an English hair stylist and media personality, who owns well known hair salons. He initially became famous for styling the hair of various celebrities on several television shows, before earning fame in his own right....
and NTL.
The company sold its share of the Grundig
Grundig
Grundig AG is a German manufacturer of consumer electronics for home entertainment which transferred to Turkish control in 2004-2007. Established in 1945 in Nuremberg by Max Grundig, the company changed hands several times before becoming part of the Turkish Koç Holding group...
brand for £25.5m in December 2007, although it retained the UK distribution rights until 2010.
In November 2008, the Alba brand name, along with Bush, were purchased by Home Retail Group, the parent company of Homebase
Homebase
Homebase is a British home improvement store and garden centre, with 350 stores across the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. It is well known by its green and orange colour scheme. Together with its sister company Argos , it forms part of Home Retail Group. Homebase recorded sales figures...
and Argos
Argos (retailer)
Argos is the largest general-goods retailer in the United Kingdom and Ireland with over 800 stores. It is unique amongst major retailers in the UK in that it is a catalogue merchant...
, for £15.25 million. As a result the former Alba Group was renamed to Harvard International.