Global home appliances supplier SharkNinja is targeting European growth despite the uncertainty surrounding Brexit, with its new Leeds HQ playing a vital role in its expansion plans.

The company’s European president, Matt Broadway said he is focusing on mainland European countries such as France, Germany, Spain and Italy, as part of his plans to recreate the growth experienced in the UK across the channel.

In a recent interview, Mr Broadway said the UK was one of the first international markets the company targeted after initially focusing on its North America business, and that, despite Brexit uncertainty, a UK-led strategy from the company’s Yorkshire base is the key to SharkNinja’s European expansion.

Having outgrown its previous site in Wakefield, the company moved into 16,021 sq ft offices at Leeds’ Thorpe Park earlier this month.

The new Leeds office will operate as SharkNinja’s European headquarters, Mr Broadway said.
Mr Broadway also believes the company’s export operations are somewhat protected against Brexit by its policy of shipping products, such as vacuum cleaners (Shark) and kitchen appliances (Ninja), directly from China to the UK and Europe.

The company, whose European turnover is £250m, aims to double it to £500m. It has 104 staff in Leeds and is currently recruiting for a further 14. The business also operates a research and development base in London which has a 100-strong team.