Aga to develop 'text cooker' and grow overseas
The chief executive of Made in the Midlands victor Aga has told Insider he sees the company having a bright future by growing its international base.
William McGrath said the Leamington Spa-based company had "a classic British product that people wanted overseas", and added that the company was looking more and more at the export market.
The company, which was named Manufacturing Company of the Year at the event, recently launched its Aga Total Control model. It which features touchscreen technology and McGrath said there were plans in the pipeline to enable mobile phones to be hooked up to the oven.
"We are developing technology so you can text your oven and tell it when to turn on," he said. "The innovation level and design capabilities of the area are the strengths of the Midlands. We were there at the start of the industrial revolution and we are still powering along with new stuff."
William McGrath said Aga is launching its Total Control model in North America where it aims to "hammer away" in the market and is hoping to boost links in France and China with a focus on developing products with lower running costs.
He said the business turns over about £265m with 2,500 members of staff. Profits last year were £6m.
