The managing director of one of the largest family-owned businesses in the country, the Gowan Group, said yesterday that the scarcity of new housing has held back the performance of its appliance and consumer electronics business.

Kya deLongchamps finds that the march of technology is continuing to revolutionise the way in which we store our food, wash clothes and make a cuppa.

One of the largest family- owned businesses in the country, the Gowan Group, last year returned to profit to record pre-tax profits of €6.3m.

Losses at one of the largest family-owned businesses in the country, the Gowan Group continued to mount in 2010, new figures show.