BSH Home Appliances, the U.S. umbrella for the Bosch, Thermador and Gaggenau major appliance brands, will allow its distribution agreement with Purcell Murray to expire in December, ending a 25-year relationship.
BSH attributed the decision to a “global initiative” by its German parent BSH Hausgeräte.
Effective Jan. 1, 2018, the premium majap maker will move to a direct sales model in California and northern Nevada, where Purcell Murray has long been its exclusive distributor. Both companies pledged to continue working together until then to ensure a smooth transition.
“Over the years Purcell Murray has been instrumental in BSH’s growth in key markets and we have accomplished a great deal together,” said BSH senior sales VP John Iacoviello. “We thank Purcell Murray for their longstanding distribution partnership.”
Added Purcell Murray managing director Matt Murray, “We are very proud of our 25-year relationship with BSH Home Appliances. Both companies have benefitted greatly from our close distribution partnership.”
Murray stressed that the partners remain “committed to servicing their customers at the highest level and executing a seamless transition at the end of 2017.”
Until then, the distributor said it will continue to support BSH’s brands in the marketplace and fulfill its existing BSH customer commitments.
The companies renewed their 22-year relationship in 2014 by signing another three-year distribution pact, with BSH pointing to the critical role Purcell Murray played in the continued growth of its brands.
But within months Bosch would buy out its European appliance partner Siemens, and perform an organizational clean sweep of its U.S. operations.
See:BSH Restructures U.S. Majap Business
Purcell Murray was founded by Tim Murray and Larry Purcell in 1981 as the exclusive distributor of Litton microwave ovens in the San Francisco Bay Area, and went on to carry some of the strongest luxury appliance and decorative plumbing brands in its Western market, including Bertazzoni, Franke, La Cornue, U-Line, Wolf and, of course, Bosch.
