Moulinexis aGroupe SEBbrand along withRowenta,Calor,All-Clad,Lagostina,Krups,andTefal,all household products brands. The company designed and produced theMouli grater.The company was founded byJean Manteletwho in 1932 invented the Moulin-Légumes, a hand-crankfood millforpuréeingvegetables. The design is considered an early forerunner to the modern food processor.[1][2]
Mantelet's business plan was to "choose an industrial sector with a future, use mass production, keep prices low, manufacture in regions where salaries are low, reduce costs, reduce dependencies on suppliers, and focus on research and publicity". Between 1929 and 1953 Mantelet applied for 93 patents.[3]
Moulinex mixer (1955)Ario Relift coffee grinder (1968)Multi Mouli-Grater 442 with 3 drums (1970s)PA1A juice squeezer
1931: Jean Mantelet, proprietor of a smallmetal workingplant inBagnolet,specialised in the fabrication of home appliances, wins a major prize for his invention of the Moulinette presse-purée.[4]
1932: On the 6th of February he applies for a patent number 732.100 and begins to market his "Moulin-Légumes". From 1933 to 1935 he sells two million units.[5]
1937: the Bagnolet plant is at full capacity, and a new plant is established atAlençonunder the name Moulin-Legumes. Employees: 40.
1951: after the war the company expands its line of hand-operated tools to includenutcrackers,pepper grinders,and other devices and production is at 30,000 units per day. The following year more than 100 million units are sold.[6]
1953: theVelosolexgives Mantelet the idea to motorise his appliances. He creates the first affordable electric coffee grinder, the Moulinex, which gives the final name to the enterprise.[5]Introduction of the Légumexsalad spinner.[6]
1961: Moulinex uses the slogans "Moulinex libère la femme" (Moulinex, liberator of women), et "Vive la cuisine presse-bouton!" (Long live the push-button kitchen!) and in America "It's so simple when you Moulinex it".[3]
1977: TV commercials begin airing in the United States for an electrical food processor Moulinex dubs "LaMachine."
1985: faced with foreign competition, posts its first-ever net loss. The company edges towards bankruptcy and is only saved by personal investment from Jean Mantelet.[3]
1986: 1600 employees are laid off. Staff is now at 8,500 salaried employees.[7]Mantelet suffers a stroke and the following year hands the company's reins over to three of his top managers: Gilbert Torelli, in charge of sales; Roland Darneau, in charge of production; and Michel Vannoorenberghe, in charge of finance.[8]
1988: Jean Mantelet, aged 88, implements asuccession planfor anemployee buyoutwith help from his main bankerCrédit Lyonnais.Michel Vannorenberghe, Gilbert Torelli, Roland Darneau, and Jacques Texier get 51% of voting rights with only 25,7 % the capital. The other employees get 30% ownership of Moulinex. The plan leads to an internal power struggle.[7]Also this year, Moulinex acquires the UK based Bulpitt & Sons (Swan Brand) Ltd., a manufacturer of electrical kitchen appliances and holloware; this company was to be dissolved one year later while Moulinex was to retain the Swan brand for a while
1991: acquisition of Krups at an enormous financial cost.[7]
1994: Jules Coulon, formerly ofMichelinis brought in to end the employee control and management with investment groupEuristaking a 40% stake. Efforts are made to rationalise operations, including the areas of purchasing and marketing. Factories atGranvilleand Domfront are closed.[7]
1995: losses top 700 million francs for the fiscal year.[8]
1997: with a revised shareholder structure and an intensive restructuring program led by CEO Pierre Blayau, formerly of French retailing giantPinault-Printemps-Redoute,and Moulinex announces its first net profit in five years.[8]
2000: merger with El.Fi, the Italian company which owned the GermanBrandthousehold appliance brand.[10]
2001: "Colossal" losses prompt a restructuring including a reduction of 4,000 staff and closure of factories in France, Brazil, andThurles(Ireland),[11][12]in an effort to return to profit. Later that year the company declares bankruptcy. Groupe SEB eventually takes over.
