REG - Ultimate Products - Appointment of New CEO

Ultimate ProductsAnnouncement

Tue 09:00

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RNS Number : 6944F  Ultimate Products PLC  26 May 2026

 

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE INFORMATION AS DEFINED UNDER ASSIMILATED
REGULATION (EU) NO. 596/2014 WHICH IS PART OF THE LAWS OF THE UNITED
KINGDOM BY VIRTUE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION (WITHDRAWAL) ACT 2018 (AS AMENDED)

 

 

26 May 2026

Ultimate Products plc

("Ultimate Products", "UP" or "the Group")

 

APPOINTMENT OF NEW CEO

Ultimate Products, the owner of a number of leading homeware brands including
Salter (the UK's oldest housewares brand, established in 1760) and Beldray
(established in 1872), announces the appointment of Simon Harrison as Chief
Executive Officer, following a thorough search process. Simon is currently the
CEO of Princes Group PLC (LSE: PRN), the FTSE 250 international food and drink
company, and will join Ultimate Products as CEO designate on 5 September 2026
before assuming the role of CEO on 26 October 2026.

 

Simon is a seasoned executive with over 25 years' FMCG commercial and
leadership experience across brand and trade marketing, sales and operations.
He joined Princes Group as Chief Commercial Officer in July 2021,

before quickly progressing to the role of Deputy Managing Director and
subsequently Chief Executive Officer during which time the business went
through a change of ownership and more recently was listed on the London Stock
Exchange. Prior to joining Princes Group, Simon spent nearly two decades at
Coca Cola European Partners (LSE: CCEP), the world's largest independent
Coca-Cola bottler, where he held a range of senior roles including Vice
President Commercial Development and Marketing Director.

 

Simon is replacing Andrew Gossage, who has notified the Board of his intention
to step down as CEO with effect from 26 October 2026, following more than 20
years in executive roles with the Group. After a short sabbatical, Andrew will
continue with the Group as a Non-Executive Director from 1 May 2027. As part
of these changes, Simon Showman, who founded the business in 1997 and served
as CEO until 2024, will move to a Non-Executive Director role with effect from
1 June 2026, while continuing as President and Founder.

 

Following these changes, the Board will comprise two Executive Directors and
six Non-Executive Directors, of whom four are Independent Non-Executive
Directors, including the Independent Non-Executive Chair.  This will ensure
the Board continues to reflect a diversity of expertise from operational,
financial, sector-specific and general business background. The Board is
committed to ensuring that it continues to have an appropriate balance of
skills, experience, independence and knowledge of the Group and its sector to
enable it to discharge its duties and responsibilities effectively.

 

Christine Adshead, Chair of Ultimate Products, said: "We are delighted to
welcome someone of Simon Harrison's calibre to Ultimate Products. He brings
outstanding leadership qualities, strong operating discipline and considerable
commercial experience, and we are confident that he has the right credentials
to take Ultimate Products forward into its next chapter. We look forward to
welcoming him to the team.

 

"Andrew has made an extraordinary contribution to Ultimate Products in more
than two decades with the Group. He was a driving force behind UP's evolution
from a sourcing business into the Home of Brands, navigated the business
through the operational challenges of the COVID period, and played a leading
role in building the Group's online business, which has grown twelvefold since
IPO. He was also central in establishing our Graduate Development Scheme, and
more recently, has overseen the Group's groundbreaking automation programme.

 

"Without Simon Showman, who founded the business and led it for 27 years,
there would be no Ultimate Products. He has been fundamental to UP's
development from a founder‑led sourcing business into the multi‑brand
homewares group it is today. Simon's entrepreneurial approach and sharp
commercial instincts have shaped the business and the fast-moving culture that
underpins it. Under his leadership, the Group built a diversified portfolio of
brands, established deep and enduring retailer relationships, and expanded its
international footprint, while remaining rooted in the values and ambition
that have defined it from the outset."

 

"I know I speak for everyone at Ultimate Products in thanking Andrew and Simon
for their exceptional endeavours, dedication and loyalty, and we are delighted
that they will remain with the Group as Non-Executive Directors."

 

Simon Harrison, Incoming CEO of Ultimate Products, said: "Ultimate Products is
a business with significant potential, based on a portfolio that includes some
of the best-known brands in UK homeware, and supported by long-standing
customer relationships and a scalable commercial model. I am delighted to be
taking on the CEO role from Andrew Gossage, who alongside Simon Showman, has
built and developed the business into the strong platform it is today. This
represents an exciting personal opportunity for me, and I look forward to
working with the Board and the wider team to lead the business into what I am
confident will be a bright future."

 

Andrew Gossage, Outgoing CEO of Ultimate Products, said: "Ultimate Products
has been a hugely important part of my life for the past two decades, and I am
enormously proud of the successful, diversified business we have built. As
CEO, part of my focus has been to ensure the business is well prepared for the
future, including putting in place the right leadership, structure and
succession plan to support its long-term development. With those strong
foundations now established, this feels like the right time for me to step
back from my day-to-day responsibilities and, after a short break, take on a
Non-Executive Director role with the Group. I would like to thank colleagues
past and present whose commitment has made my time at Ultimate Products so
rewarding."

 

Simon Showman, President and Founder, said: "I am hugely excited about the
next phase for Ultimate Products. The business has a strong executive team in
place, with the ability to continue delivering the wide range of beautiful,
more sustainable products we are known for. I am also delighted to welcome
Simon Harrison to the business as our first external CEO. His FMCG leadership
experience makes him ideally placed to build on the momentum we have created.
I am also pleased to remain involved with the Group as a Non-Executive
Director, and look forward to seeing our excellent team realise the
substantial opportunity ahead."

 

Regulatory disclosures

The following information is disclosed pursuant to Rule 17 and Schedule Two
paragraph (g) of the AIM Rules for Companies in relation to Simon Harrison,
aged 55.

Simon Harrison holds or has held the following directorships/partnerships in
the past five years:

 Current directorships/partnerships  Past directorships/partnerships
 Princes Group PLC                   Princes Italia s.p.a (previously known as Princes Industrie Alimentari s.r.l)
 Edible Oils Limited                 Princes Foods Limited
 Princes (Tuna) Mauritius Limited
 Princes Foods BV

As at the date of this announcement, Simon Harrison, together with his persons
closely associated (as defined under MAR) holds no shares in the Company.

There is no further information to be disclosed in relation to the appointment
of Simon Harrison pursuant to Rule 17 and Schedule 2, paragraph (g) of the AIM
Rules.

 

For more information, please contact:

 

Ultimate Products +44 (0) 161 627 1400

Andrew Gossage, CEO

Chris Dent, CFO

 

Cavendish Capital Markets Limited (Nomad and Joint Broker) + 44 (0)20 7220
0500

Matt Goode/ Callum Davidson/ Trisyia Jamaludin (Corporate Finance)

Matt Lewis (Corporate Broking)

 

Shore Capital (Joint Broker) +44 (0) 20 7408 4090

Malachy McEntyre/ Isobel Jones (Corporate Broking)

Mark Percy / David Coaten / Harry Davies-Ball (Corporate Advisory)

 

Sodali & Co ultimateproducts@sodali.com
(mailto:ultimateproducts@sodali.com)

Rob Greening / Sam Austrums / Oliver Banks

 

Notes to Editors

Ultimate Products is the owner of a number of leading homeware brands
including Salter (the UK's oldest houseware brand, established in 1760) and
Beldray (a laundry, floor care, heating and cooling brand that was established
in 1872). According to its market research, nearly 80% of UK households own at
least one of the Group's products.

 

Ultimate Products sells to over 300 retailers in over 30 countries - spanning
discounters, supermarkets and general retailers, and ranging from large
national and international multi-channel retailers to smaller retail chains.
Its products are also available on Salter.com
(https://protect.checkpoint.com/v2/r02/___https:/url.uk.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/W8FhCqZypsX16GRuZf6uEDrQL?domain=salter.com/___.YXAxZTpzaG9yZWNhcDpjOm86NzE5NWFlMmNkMGUyMmNhNDNjODYxODA4OTg2MzMzODY6NzplMDVmOjcyYjRjYzJhNzJjZGNjNTVjY2Q3M2VlMjM3MWMzYWNlYjY1ODAwNDViNWJmOTJhZjNkMmZjMmE0Y2RlYTIzNWE6cDpGOk4)
 and Beldray.com
(https://protect.checkpoint.com/v2/r02/___https:/url.uk.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/rV0GCr9zqt2r3X6Czh8u4RwE-?domain=beldray.com/___.YXAxZTpzaG9yZWNhcDpjOm86NzE5NWFlMmNkMGUyMmNhNDNjODYxODA4OTg2MzMzODY6NzplMDVkOjNhNTBkOWQ3Y2IwYTc3YjY0NjYyZDE4NDAxMDdiNDYzNzJmNjk5ZWNlNzI3M2E0OGI4YjBhZjQ1MTFiZjA5YmY6cDpGOk4)
, as well as major third-party online marketplaces. The Group specialises in
five product categories: Small Domestic Appliances; Housewares; Laundry;
Audio; and Heating and Cooling. Other brands include Progress (cookware and
bakeware), Kleeneze (laundry and floorcare), Petra (small domestic appliances)
and Intempo (audio).

 

Founded in 1997, Ultimate Products is headquartered in Oldham, Greater
Manchester, where it has design, sales, marketing, buying, quality assurance,
support functions and warehouse facilities across two sites. Manor Mill, the
Group's head office, includes a spectacular 20,000 sq ft showroom that
showcases each of its brands. In addition, the Group has an office and
showroom in Guangzhou, China and Paris, France. Ultimate Products employs over
300 staff and is certified as a Great Place to Work®. A significant number of
its employees joined via the Group's Graduate Development Scheme, one of the
biggest in the North West.

 

Please note that Ultimate Products is not the owner of Russell Hobbs. The
Group currently has licence agreements in place granting it an exclusive
licence to use the "Russell Hobbs" trademark for cookware and laundry (NB this
does not include Russell Hobbs electrical appliances).

 

For further information, please visit www.upplc.com
(https://protect.checkpoint.com/v2/r02/___https:/url.uk.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/lWbQCwrGyuyvZXPSKs4uJx-e0?domain=upplc.com___.YXAxZTpzaG9yZWNhcDpjOm86NzE5NWFlMmNkMGUyMmNhNDNjODYxODA4OTg2MzMzODY6NzoyNWNhOjcwYzlkYjc2Y2U5NTcwMmU3NGM0NDZkMDhmMmQwYzI2ZTQ4NzJiMWQwM2RhYWM1YjYwZmE5NjU3NDEzZTEyMWU6cDpGOk4)
.

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