Spectrum Brands' Rayovac(R) Division Crowned by Prestigious Queen's Award
MADISON, Wis., May 03, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) --
Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: SPB), a diversified and global consumer products company with market-leading brands, announced today that its Rayovac(R) global battery division, which is the world's number-one selling hearing aid battery manufacturer, has officially been recognized by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
Rayovac(R), the world's longest standing hearing aid battery manufacturer and only UK-based one, has been given the royal seal of approval for and awarded the prestigious Queen's Award for Enterprise.
The Queen's Award for Enterprise is one of the highest honors that can be bestowed on a UK-based company and is awarded each year to those demonstrating outstanding achievement and innovation. Rayovac(R) is one of a select band of top companies to win and has picked up the prize for Innovation 2011 for its commitment to product development.
In receiving the award, Rayovac(R) has been rewarded for its success in pushing back the boundaries of battery technology since manufacturing its first zinc air battery in the UK in 1989, most recently with its new Mercury Free AVA (Added Voltage Agent) battery which has been engineered over a seven-year period. The battery combines clean technology with high performance and has been developed over several years. It is the most powerful mercury free product on the market - lasting up to 30 percent longer than competitor batteries.
It is one of many batteries developed and produced in Rayovac's Washington, United Kingdom facility, and its companion plant in Portage, Wisconsin.
"This is great news for Rayovac. The Queen's Award is one of the highest accolades a company can win and a real reward for the efforts we have made to innovate and enhance battery technology over several years," said Vince Armitage, Division Vice President, Rayovac Hearing Aid Batteries for Europe, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific. "The pace of change in battery technology is increasing all the time as manufacturers of hearing aids continue to add new digital features to their devices which need more power. We're working hard to anticipate these developments by constantly improving the power and reliability of batteries."
"This award is truly a reflection of the tireless and combined efforts of our global team in manufacturing, research and development, and quality," said Randy Raymond, Vice President, Global Sales & Marketing, Rayovac Hearing Aid Batteries.
According to Jeff Schmoeger, Vice President, Global Battery Operations, "Rayovac has a long and rich history of innovation in zinc air batteries, from the development of unique cell sizes to our continuous pursuit of the world's longest-lasting hearing aid battery."
Rayovac Mercury Free AVA is the latest in a long line of product innovations the Company has introduced by working closely with hearing aid manufacturers and hard of hearing groups to improve the power, reliability and lifespan of batteries. It has responded to the increasing power demands of today's hearing devices by boosting the capacity of the battery through new proprietary technology - changing the internal structure of the battery with new designs, thinner materials and new chemical formulations. This has resulted in a series of market-leading products including Rayovac Advanced and Cochlear Plus, a specialist battery for those with cochlear implants. Other innovations, including a stainless steel shell casing and new air management system, have also significantly enhanced performance.
"The hearing aid battery market is growing steadily, driven by a combination of factors such as aging populations, advances in hearing instrument technology and growth in emerging markets," Raymond said. "Rayovac is the global market leader in zinc air hearing aid batteries due to our leadership in technology, performance and reliability, and the Queen's Award is a tremendous tribute to our products, process and people."
About Spectrum's Global Batteries Business
Spectrum Brands Holdings' batteries business spans the globe, from North America to Europe and Latin America where the Company is among the top one, two or three suppliers in each region.In Central Europe, the premium-positioned VARTA(R) is the second-largest alkaline battery brand.In North America, Rayovac(R) is the number-three brand with a well-defined value proposition and growing share, and in Latin America, the Rayovac(R) brand dominates the battery market.The Company also is the leading global supplier of hearing aid batteries. Our portfolio features a wide variety of consumer batteries, including alkaline, zinc carbon, hearing aid, rechargeable batteries and chargers. Rayovac(R) and VARTA(R) also market portable lighting products.For more information, visit www.rayovac.com and www.varta-consumer.com.
About Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc.
Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc., a member of the Russell 2000 Index,is a diversified, global consumer products company and a leading supplier of batteries, shaving and grooming products, personal care products, small household appliances, specialty pet supplies, lawn & garden and home pest control products, personal insect repellents and portable lighting. Helping to meet the needs of consumers worldwide, the Company offers a broad portfolio of market-leading and widely trusted brands including Rayovac(R), Remington(R), Varta(R), George Foreman(R), Black & Decker(R), Toastmaster(R), Tetra(R), Marineland(R), Nature's Miracle(R), Dingo(R), 8-in-1(R), Littermaid(R), Spectracide(R), Cutter(R), Repel(R), and Hot Shot(R). Spectrum Brands Holdings' products are sold by the world's top 25 retailers and are available in more than one million stores in more than 120 countries around the world. Spectrum Brands Holdings generated net sales of $3.1 billion from continuing operations in fiscal 2010.For more information, visit www.spectrumbrands.com.
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SOURCE: Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc.
Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc. Investor/ Media Contact: Dave Prichard, 608.278.6141