Frontier IP Group, PLC (LSE:FIPP) has announced a fresh international milestone for Alusid, the recycled-materials tile maker in which it holds a 35.4% stake, after the company struck an exclusive distribution deal with Kakelspecialisten, one of Sweden’s biggest tile suppliers.
The agreement gives Kakelspecialisten, a subsidiary of the global construction group Saint-Gobain, sole rights to sell Alusid’s wall and floor tiles in Sweden for the next two years.
It will also be able to distribute the products elsewhere on a non-exclusive basis. The initial focus will be on Alusid’s Mas, Principle and upcoming Ashton ranges, with more to be added as the company expands its production capacity.
Kakelspecialisten has been a fixture of the Scandinavian tile market since 1992 and is known for its premium showroom network and strong commercial reach.
The company has also carved out a reputation for sustainability, having recently launched a climate-impact calculator that gives architects and customers verified emissions data for nearly all of its stocked ceramics.
This sort of transparency is becoming more important as the construction industry pays closer attention to its environmental footprint.
That emphasis dovetails with Alusid’s pitch. The British company makes tiles using more than 95% recycled material, with significantly lower carbon emissions than conventional ceramics.
Its products are gaining traction among retailers and commercial clients across Europe, including Starbucks EMEA and Topps Tiles, which now carries two Alusid ranges nationwide.
Parkside Architectural Tiles, the commercial arm of Topps Tiles, recently introduced the Luca line, which includes Alusid’s own recycled glaze and is made from 99% recycled content.
Alusid’s chief executive, Alasdair Bremner, said: “Since scaling our production, internationalising sales has been central to our mission.
"We're seeing real momentum as partners across Europe recognise that sustainability in the built environment is urgent and needs to be transparently incorporated from the start.
"Kakelspecialisten share this vision. We are delighted to collaborate to bring genuinely low-carbon, ultra-high recycled content tiles to Sweden.”
Frontier IP boss Neil Crabb added that the deal with “one of Sweden's largest tile distributors - and a subsidiary of one of the world’s biggest construction materials groups - is an important achievement”, and said it places Alusid in a strong position as it continues to consider options for a future flotation.