USSPA is one of the most important spa manufacturers in Europe. The family business is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. It offers a comprehensive range of spas and swim spas for both private and public use, with exports to more than 20 countries worldwide. All are produced in its factory, in the heart of Europe, in the Czech Republic. Meeting with Katerina Kadlecova, a major figure in the Czech and European economic landscape who heads the company alongside her husband Jan Kadlec.
30 years of quality, design, and innovation for the European spa manufacturer
Hello Katerina, we are very pleased to meet you, firstly as USSPA CEO. Secondly, as a great female figure in the Czech Republic - You are ranked among the 200 most influential women in the Czech Republic published by Forbes magazine (2025) - and therefore in Europe.
With 30 years in the spa industry and being one of the oldest specialized spa and swim spa manufacturers on the European market, this is a remarkable achievement. Looking back, what defining moments or challenges stand out for you the most?
Katerina Kadlecova: It all started with the decision to have our own production. Hiring a product designer right from the start, taking our own path and being brave enough to be different. At the beginning, we even had to construct the technology for the production itself, starting with the vacuum forming machine. That is where we laid the foundations for our extensive know-how.
Becoming the first spa producer in the Czech Republic and one of the first ones in Europe at a time when the general public had really no idea what a spa was, that was quite a challenge. But the vision of the need for quality home relaxation, for a daily moment to slow down in an increasingly fast-paced world has proven right.
Spa from Private Spa Range
Developing our products we have always focused on real innovations, real advantages not just some empty marketing slogans for average solutions. That of course has not been the fastest or cheapest way but we are glad we have taken it. Quality, design and innovations that is what defines us.
Holding on to our values even in the tough times, never taking the easy-looking shortcuts.
That counts also for the relationships we build with our customers, partners and employees. As for the internal operation, we are a data-driven company. Investing in processes as well as tools such as SAP and controlling systems at early stages gave us strong backgrounds for the current production capacity expansion.
Last but not least, having our direct sales and service in the Czech Republic is an important milestone. We have essentially built the spa market here, becoming its long-term leader. The direct contact with end users allows us to respond flexibly to their needs, giving us a fast track to ideas for our development department... and finally, valuable experience that we can share with our dealers and partners abroad, which is priceless.
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USSPA has been a family company from the very beginning. How did you celebrate the 30th anniversary (which was in March), and how do family values influence the business approach of the USSPA brand?
Katerina Kadlecova: We celebrate the anniversary throughout the year; every activity happening is a bit special. With our employees, we started in March with a toast, and now we have a sporting event coming up in August, which will be a true family day. With our customers as well as the founders, my parents, we have celebrated at a ball organized by our restaurant. But the celebration we value the most was at a golf tournament organised for customers in June. We raised over 1 million CZK (over 41 thousand EUR) in an auction for a charity providing home hospice care in our region. The event for our international partners will be held in fall, just like an open house at a factory for our neighbours and the closest community.
It is a busy year and I would say it nicely reflects the family values adopted by the company and people around it.
Family values are a strong base for our company in general. Responsibility reaches across generations in our case, that means building products that last, setting up long-term relationships, giving back to the community.
Katerina Kadlecova and Jan Kadlec, her husband and Chief Operating Officer of USSPA
Being a female leader in the spa industry is still quite rare - how has that influenced your journey? What impact do you think a woman's perspective brings to the business?
Katerina Kadlecova: I don`t like to look at it as women vs. men. Over 30% of our employees are women. The point is, it's not about gender; it is about personality, skills and attitude. I've been leading the company since 2011 together with my husband, and what's key in our case is how well we complement each other. From the perspective of the pool and spa industry with companies being led mostly by men, my female perspective might play a role, especially in how we differ - our distinctive style from product design to marketing. It's about complexity, attention paid to details, design in our DNA.
Everything must have both strong substance and aesthetic form. We work with emotions.
Relationships and long-term thinking are important to us, which also ties into the fact that we're a family business.
You've made a significant statement, especially for a high-tech spa manufacturer: 'I like technology that helps, not technology that potentially enslaves us. I don't like it when something starts to control me; that's when you lose your instincts and lose yourself. Everything should be approached with reason; giving in to technology is not ideal.' Did this perspective guide you in product development, design, and technology?
Katerina Kadlecova: Yes, there always must be common sense involved. Going into some tech just because everyone does that does not make sense to me. Just like doing design for design, innovation for innovation - there has to be a greater meaning to it, a benefit for the customer, real progress for the user. People and their well-being are in the centre of our efforts; technology is just a tool.
USSPA spa
Will there be some novelties to celebrate this anniversary?
Katerina Kadlecova: We have dedicated this year to new cooperations and opening new horizons and potential for our production and expertise.
We have also mastered a new mold-making process, which is giving us greater flexibility and perfection in the new product development.
This year is a bridge to the progressive future of our company and the start of new projects. Results in the form of new products will be coming up in the following years.
An important point of this year's celebrations is the mentioned support to the community around us.
We've had the chance to try the new SPACULTURE range, including its functional soaps, which are not only beneficial for the spa but also very pleasant for the skin (we tried it). How does this fit into USSPA's core business, and what inspired the development of SPACULTURE?
Katerina Kadlecova: Maybe this is the women's point of view. And the drive for perfection too. The Spaculture concept reflects our rich experience both with spa production and use. Spaculture supports spas and their use and vice versa. Using the functional soaps makes the water care easier, as well as it adds up to the relaxation ritual. It has the people as well as the spas and pools in mind.
Educational part of the Spaculture brand strives to elevate the culture of home wellness, enhancing the overall experience.
Spaculture also blossoms up the after-sales product ranges for any spa or swimming pool retailers. Picking it up from all those "must buy smelly chemical products" to something you "want to buy and use". Such products support the sales and also the long-term relationships with customers, boosting up the after sales.
What is your vision for the future of USSPA and SPACULTURE?
Katerina Kadlecova: Continuing to proudly hold up the flag of Czech-made products, products fully developed and made in the heart of Europe with the extra added value of design, quality and innovation. Fulfilling the sustainability in the widest meaning possible - family-owned business passed over the generations, our customers` well-being and longevity, and durability of products with our smart technologies promoting effective household operation.
To sum it up - continuing to inspire the industry.
What can we wish for USSPA for the next 10 years?
Katerina Kadlecova: A world where relaxation, regeneration, and time for oneself are valued and cherished. Where human well-being is put up in front. No wars and crazy politics bringing uncertainty to the world, keeping people from the most important thing--their families and shared precious moments and experiences.
