For many households the kitchen is the beating heart of the home – the place where family and friends gather not just to eat but also to relax and socialise. Perhaps unsurprisingly then the UK kitchens market offers pretty rich pickings. It’s estimated, in fact, to be worth £4bn per year, and there are some giants of manufacturing who are consuming major volumes of timber products and investing in new production capacity as they tap into that demand.
One such is Howdens Joinery, which is the UK’s largest manufacturer and trade-only supplier of fitted kitchens, with a market share by value of more than 20%. In volume terms its market share is higher.
The £1.2bn turnover company has more than 600 depots, has been expanding to the tune of 30 depots per year over the last few years and currently sees the opportunity for at least 700 in years to come.
Howdens manufactures around four million kitchen cabinets a year – a figure that has been increasing since mid-2013 when the market began to recover. Its chipboard purchasing – from Egger for carcasses and Kronospan for worktops – has risen in tandem and is now more than 200,000m3 per year.
"The recovery in the housing sector has had an impact – and 165,000 homes are forecast to be built this year – but it’s the refurbishment market, based on more than 25 million existing properties in the UK, that has remained the backbone of the business and the market," said Gary Rawlinson, Howdens’ head of investor relations.
Following a two-year programme between 2011-2013 to install Biesse production facilities at the two factories (in Runcorn and Howden), investment at Howdens has continued apace. The company said its capital expenditure will increase from around £35m in 2014 to £60m per year between 2015-2018.
"This is to enable us to increase our manufacturing capacity, provide increased warehousing and improve the resilience of manufacturing operations," said Mr Rawlinson.
The Symphony Group, which is the largest privately-owned fitted kitchen manufacturer in the UK, has seen an 18% increase in turnover between 2013-2014, up from £133m to £157m. The company benefits from having a variety of different routes to market, including independent retailers (more than 500 retail outlets), merchants, housebuilders and community-based refurbishment projects. And, said Simon Collyns, group marketing and retail sales director, significant investments during the recession made the company resilient to increased demand during the economic recovery.
"We have continued to make multi-million pound investments in an industry-leading, trade-only marketing suite, IT infrastructure, paint plant, laser edging machines and advanced panel/frontal drilling processes," he added.
"We’ve also invested in our own fleet of vehicles, which now distributes more than 27,000 assembled cabinets across the country every week. And we have further investment planned which will have a significant impact on our business."
Volume bespoke kitchen designer and manufacturer Stoneham Kitchens has 150 years of traditional craftsmanship and a Royal Warrant under its belt and it too hasn’t stood still when it comes to investment in new technology at its 65,000ft2 factory in Sidcup, Kent.
"We’ve made a double investment in our production plant, upgrading to a new Homag Ambition 2474 edgebander and Cefla’s PRIMA automated spraying system," said Adrian Stoneham, managing director. "The result is increased in-house productivity and on-point quality finishes for customers."
For custom-built and off-the-peg kitchens alike there is a myriad of designs, colours and finishes available on the market today. Howdens offers two standard cabinets (oak and white) plus a ‘contract’ cabinet aimed at the landlord market but the various permutations result in a range of around 50 different kitchens from stock.
"This is continually being refreshed as we respond to trends and demand," said Mr Rawlinson. "For example, we introduced 18 new kitchens last year and a further 13 in the first half of this year."
He reported that gloss and integrated handle ranges, which originally were only available at a premium price, are now available at a lower price point and have proved very popular. A number of different colours have been introduced across the range, including stone and ivory and the trend, said Mr Rawlinson, is away from the natural wood look towards painted finishes.
Solid timber kitchens are still among Symphony’s top performers with oak and ash continuing to be the most popular choices for solid timber doors, said Simon Collyns.
"Solid timber Shaker and in-frame styles offer a traditional feel which is very typically British and increasing in popularity," he said. "Traditional kitchen designs never go out of style; they offer a homely, yet timeless ambiance."
It’s a sentiment shared by Adrian Stoneham: "Timber is still very popular because it’s creates a classic, striking look that withstands the whims of fashion. Wood looks great as it ages and unique grain patterns, ensure each kitchen is different."
Stoneham’s carcasses can be specified in a choice of 10 MFC colours or veneered MDF in oak, walnut, maple or cherry. Solid timber, particularly hardwoods such as beech and tulipwood are used in the structural parts of the carcass, such as front rails, glazing bars and corner posts. Solid oak, maple and walnut are popular choices for the dovetail drawer boxes, added Mr Stoneham.
Solid hardwoods and veneers – including macassar, burr oak and burr walnut – are also used extensively in Stoneham’s door designs, with a wide choice of in-frame and lay-on styles, which are finished in a variety of stains and specialist finishes.
In terms of overall design the kitchen market is dominated by two polar opposites – the traditional and the ultra-modern. "On the one hand we have the very traditionally British arts and crafts style with its rustic charm and exquisite detailing, versus the contemporary and minimalist style featuring handle-less designs and sleek, elegant lines," said Mr Collyns.
"Painted timber ranges offer a great modern twist on classic design and can look stunning in any setting," he continued. "Earthy, muted tones are often bestsellers but we’ve expanded our palette of colours by introducing soft greys and blues. Having our own paint plant has meant that we have been able to introduce new colours into the business quickly." Like Symphony and Howdens, Stonehams has also noted a trend in painted timber. "The distinctive graining on oak suits a variety of designs with natural stained finishing, including anthracite/grey oak shades," said Mr Stoneham. "Painted oak with enhanced grain is very popular at present."
He added that with its bespoke painting service, the company could colour match the kitchen to "anything the customer desires, from an item of furniture to a specific material or wallpaper" and uses a spectrometer to ensure precision. CusTomisaTion a key Trend
This increasingly popular colour customisation is a trend that German manufacturer Rabe & Meyer is tapping into with its Rotpunkt range of kitchens.
Rotpunkt has built its UK export business through a national network of 10 authorised kitchen retailers who are supplied direct from Germany. The company currently sells around 1,300 kitchens a year in the UK, generating a turnover of £7m, figures it expects to increase in line with the recovery of new build and refurbishment markets, with growth particularly strong in London and the south-east.
The Rotpunkt portfolio features handled or handle-less kitchens in 100 fronts, available in more than 100 colours plus RAL options and a wide choice of finishes, from fine matt to high gloss.
The mid- to top-end kitchens have high production values and design versatility, said Matt Phillips, head of Rotpunkt UK sales.
"This allows each kitchen to be tailored to individual style and budget requirements," he said. "The mix of design elements extends to 25 interior cabinet colours and six handrail profiles in 34 colours. Add to this the extensive choice of accent colours to match or contrast the worktops, breakfast bars, shelving, end panels and plinths and the opportunities for creative, individual design are seemingly endless."
Mr Phillips added that a new door and worktop range in fingerprint resistant high pressure laminate will be available from January, as will new door colour options. January will also see a new Rotpunkt product come on stream for interior cabinet production.
"Greenline is made from bioboard – a mix of chipboard and corn," said Mr Phillips. "It offers a sustainable, renewable material that is 30% lighter in weight."
