Philips and Pierlite end lamp distribution agreement in Australia

Philips Lighting and Pierlite Australia have agreed to end their 10-year lamp distributor agreement in Australia, effective 10 March 2014. Pierlite will, however, continue to represent a suite of Philips professional luminaires for the region.

In making the announcement, Rob Fletcher, General Manager of Philips Lighting ANZ, and Ben Mills, Executive General Manager of Pierlite Australia, reiterated that the agreement to end the lamp distributor partnership and continue with professional luminaires was amicable.

“Pierlite has played an integral role in the success of the Philips Lighting brand in Australia,” Fletcher said. “We are proud of our ten-year history together, and Pierlite has been an important partner in both building the business and supporting our wholesale customers.”

Fletcher added that the move is a natural transition as Philips lighting positions itself to support the future lighting needs of the Australian market. “Ten years ago, Philips Lighting in Australia was primarily a lamps supplier,” Fletcher said.

“Philips is now a leader in LED lighting and a lighting solutions provider with an established expert technical and sales support team. Wholesale customers will now be able to directly leverage the broad range of lighting solutions Philips has to offer, in addition to lamps and luminaires.”

Mills noted the significance of the decade-long partnership and that the decision supports the future direction of both businesses. “We are proud of our long association with Philips Lighting and we are pleased the partnership will continue in the area of professional luminaires,” he said. “As a leading lighting solutions provider, our focus has been and always will remain the creation of world-class lighting products and services for our customers, supported by a continued investment in Australian engineering, customer service and manufacturing facilities.”

During the transition period, Philips and Pierlite will work closely with wholesale customers to ensure the changeover process is seamless and straightforward. In Australia, Philips Lighting will focus on the continued growth of Philips innovative lighting systems - in particular, the introduction of new LED technology, connected lighting technologies such as the recently launched Philips Hue LED wireless lighting system and the expansion of the Philips Dynalite lighting controls business.