Leroy Merlin Reports Modest Growth in 2025 FRANCE: Leroy Merlin recorded a 1.4% increase in business volume in 2025, reaching US$ 11.5 billion (€9.8 billion) in France, outperforming a declining DIY market estimated at around -3%. Growth was largely driven by strong e-commerce performance, with online visits rising by 10% and click-and-collect sales increasing by over 5%, indicating improved digital conversion. In addition, sales to professional customers grew by 10% to US$ 1

Alessandro Catani Appointed Managing Director of Alfaco POLAND: Alessandro Catani was appointed Managing Director of Alfaco, part of CAREL Group, in December 2025. He brings extensive international experience across the financial and industrial sectors, having held senior roles in Poland and Italy, including General Manager at Steel.s Poland and leadership positions at Colorobbia Polska. His appointment aligns with CAREL’s strategy to strengthen its presence in Poland, enhanc

SANHA GmbH & Co. KG Reports Modest Revenue Growth and Strong Margins in 2025 GERMANY: SANHA GmbH & Co. KG recorded a slight revenue increase of around 1% to US$ 146.9 million (€124.9 million) in 2025, supported by strong performance in refrigeration, industrial applications, and growth across Eastern Europe, Scandinavia, and the United States. However, domestic demand in Germany remained weak due to low construction activity, despite some improvement. Profitability remained s

London Housing Crisis Worsens as 42,000 Planned Homes Are Abandoned UNITED KINGDOM: London’s housing shortage has deepened after developers scrapped or repurposed plans for at least 42,000 homes over the past three years, according to industry analysis. Of these, around 30,000 had already received planning permission, while 12,000 were part of local development plans. Many of these sites are now being converted into warehouses, data centres, self-storage facilities and hotels

Nordic Climate Group Netherlands: Nordic Climate Group has acquired Ten Have Installatie B.V., an Amsterdam-based company specialising in the design, installation, and maintenance of cooling, heating, and air handling systems. Founded in 2002, the company has established a presence in the commercial segment, serving sectors such as automotive, retail, and real estate. Following the acquisition, Nordic Climate Group has expanded its footprint in the Netherlands to 14 companies

Norcros UK: Norcros plc expects reported revenue to grow by approximately 10% to around GBP 393 million (about USD 490-495 million) for the financial year ending April 2026, compared to GBP 355.8 million (around USD 440-445 million) in the previous year. This growth is primarily supported by the acquisition of Fibo and market share gains, while like for like revenue growth remains limited at around 0.5%, reflecting subdued underlying demand. New build activity continues to re

Clas Ohlson Reports 11% Increase in Turnover SWITZERLAND: Clas Ohlson reported an 11% year-on-year increase in turnover for March 2026, reaching SEK 902 million (US$83.1 million). The Swedish home improvement retailer said 8% of the growth came from organic sales, while acquisitions contributed 2%, with no material currency impact. For the period from May 2025 to March 2026, total revenue rose 7% to SEK 11.6 billion (US$1.07 billion). Organic growth contributed 9%, acquisitio

Carrier and ATuAire Partner to Expand Heat Pump Adoption in Spain SPAIN: Carrier Global’s Spanish unit and ATuAire have signed a strategic agreement to accelerate deployment of electric heat pumps across hotels, hospitals, industrial sites, multi-residential housing, sports centres, and other commercial buildings in Spain. The partnership combines Carrier’s HVAC technology and engineering expertise with ATuAire’s capabilities in project financing, energy-saving certificates,

France Unveils US$ 261 Million Electrification Plan to Cut Fossil Fuel Dependence FRANCE: France is accelerating efforts to electrify its economy as the Iran war underscores the risks of relying on imported fossil fuels. Prime Minister Sébastian Lecornu said the shift is now a matter of “national interest,” not just climate policy. The government aims to cut fossil fuel dependence from 60% to 40% by 2030 through wider adoption of electric vehicles, heat pumps, and clean power

Partners with PHG UK: Flair Showers has entered into a partnership with Plumbing Heating Group (PHG), a merchant buying group in the United Kingdom, to expand the availability of its shower solutions. Under the agreement, PHG members will be able to supply a range of products including shower enclosures, bathscreens and wetrooms from the Flair PRO and Harmony collections. PHG operates 308 branches across the country, including bathroom showrooms and plumbing and heating trade

Opens HVAC Solutions Hub Italy: Midea has opened its first HVAC Solutions Hub in Italy, located within the CaldaiaStore outlet in Vigevano. The facility is intended to serve as a centre for professionals in the heating, ventilation and air conditioning sector, providing a space to explore products, applications and services. The hub is positioned to support interaction across the supply chain, including wholesalers, installers and end users, while facilitating the adoption of

Receives Award for Poland Heat Pump Investment Poland: Daikin has received the “Investment Impact Award” from fDi Intelligence, a division of the Financial Times, for its investment of EUR 300 million (USD 324 million) in a residential heat pump production facility in Poland. The award recognises foreign direct investment projects in Europe, with the ceremony held in Cannes, France on 10 March 2026. The investment supports the production of heat pump technologies within Europ

Swegon Acquires Residential Ventilation Business of Dantherm to Strengthen Nordic Presence Denmark: Swegon has signed an agreement to acquire the residential ventilation business of Dantherm, enhancing its position in the residential indoor climate segment in Denmark and strengthening its footprint across the Nordics. The transaction includes development, manufacturing, and sales of residential air handling units, with Dantherm’s portfolio holding a strong domestic presence a

International Monetary Fund Forecasts Slower Euro Zone Growth and Rising Inflation Amid Energy Risks Europe: The International Monetary Fund stated that Eurozone growth is expected to slow to 1.1% in 2026 from 1.4% in 2025, below the earlier 1.3% estimate, due to the impact of the Iran war and persistently high energy costs, while inflation is projected to rise to 2.6% from 2.1%. The region’s heavy reliance on energy imports, compounded by the effects of the Russia-Ukraine Wa

EDF Announces Electrification Plan for Households and Businesses France: EDF has announced a plan valued at EUR 240 million (USD 259 million) to support the transition to electric energy among low-income households and small businesses in France. The initiative includes financial assistance for approximately 80,000 households to adopt heat pump systems, with a grant of EUR 1,000 (USD 1,080) per household that can be combined with existing support schemes. The programme is pos

Bauhaus Expands Ship-from-Store Model in Nordic E-commerce Nordic Region (Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden): Bauhaus has partnered with logistics service provider nShift to expand its ship-from-store model for e-commerce operations across the Nordic countries. The initiative follows a pilot programme in which approximately 200,000 orders were processed using the system. The company expects around 750,000 online orders to be handled through the platform by 2026. Under this mod

France to Ban Gas Heating in New Buildings by Year-End France: Sébastien Lecornu announced that the installation of gas heating systems will be banned in all new constructions, including collective housing, from the end of this year in France. The measure forms part of a broader plan to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and promote electrification of energy use. The announcement was made on April 10 at Hôtel Matignon, where initial steps of the government’s energy strategy were

Duravit Appoints Michael Demmer as Interim CEO Germany: Duravit AG has appointed Michael Demmer as Interim Chief Executive Officer with immediate effect. The appointment forms part of an ongoing strategic realignment and is intended to ensure continuity across the company’s processes, projects and strategic initiatives. “I will continue to develop Duravit AG with a clear strategy that puts people first and consistently strengthens the core brand. In doing so, we will focus ev

Heat Pump UK: Vital Energi has been awarded a £14 million (US$18.7 million) contract by Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust to develop a new low-carbon energy centre at Tameside General Hospital. The project involves designing and constructing an energy centre equipped with a 2MW heat pump system, comprising four air-source and two water-source heat pumps, along with low-temperature hot water boilers. A central aspect of the initiative is the replacement

Heat pumps EDF, which has been serving the French population for 80 years, is allocating €240 million (US$280 million) to support consumers and industrial players in adopting heat pumps and electric heavy goods vehicles, as well as to encourage the establishment of electricity-intensive industries in France. This initiative, funded both directly by EDF and through a support fund open to additional partners, aims to accelerate the country’s transition toward electrified soluti