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News Release, 
April 23, 2005

UK Kitchen & Bathroom Distributors Market


The AKTRIN Furniture Information Center, in collaboration with AMA Research Staff have released the 2005 edition of the UK Kitchen & Bathroom Distributors Market. This new study presents some interesting findings and conclusions.

The kitchen and bathroom distributor market is substantial at over ?00 turnover at distributors prices in 2004,In 2003, the kitchen and bathroom sectors remained buoyant and continued to experience relatively healthy levels of growth.  This was partly due to house price inflation acting as a positive driver for a number of consumer durable markets, supported by high levels of mortgage advances for home improvements. Additionally, the housing market continued to perform well during 2003 and the level of new house build completions increased slightly, both factors supporting the market. 

A further factor influencing the market has been the continued growth of the self-build sector, where high quality fittings tend to be installed.  In 2004, rising interest rates and further speculation of a significant fall in house prices dampened consumer confidence somewhat, and this had a knock on effect on consumer spending.

There has been increased pressure on pricing and margins in the market over the past 2 years due to the growth of the DIY multiples in the bathroom sector, in addition to the growth of imports. However, the distributors have in general managed to maintain margins by offering more own branded ranges, and increasing service levels. 

In addition to these issues, one of the most important factors has been the continued focus on design and trading up in terms of kitchen and bathroom fittings.  To satisfy this there has been an increased number of products made available to satisfy the demand, allowing the distributors to add value by stocking a comprehensive range of products and brands particularly niche and specialist varieties.

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The leading companies are The PJH Group, which operates through Hopkinsons Fourways.  They are traditionally strong in the kitchen appliance and furniture sectors and are also leaders in the bathroom market. 

The national distributors now account for 59% of the market, led by PJH. Other major nationals are PWS, BDC, Ideal, Allied, AHED, Arrow, Maurice Lay and Galley Matrix.   The key distributors in the kitchen sector include PJH, PWS, Mark Two, Waterline, Allied, BDC, Broughton Crangrove, Stearn, William Ball, Galley Matrix and Arrow.  In the bathroom and shower sector the key companies are PJH, Mark Two, Ideal Bathrooms, Broughton Crangrove and AHED.

The larger regional distributors account for around 32% of the market while local distributors are estimated to have declined to account for some 9%.

Bathroom products continue to account for the greatest share of distributors' business with 38% followed by kitchen furniture with 27%, shower products, kitchen appliances and others.  Within bathroom products, baths and sanitaryware take the largest share with 48%, followed by accessories and brassware.

In the kitchen appliance sector, distributors still only account for a small share due to the dominance of the electrical multiples.  However, there has been an increasing demand for larger, higher value kitchen appliances such as ange cookers and larder fridges etc, allowing the distributors to maintain share of the freestanding market.

The kitchen and bathroom distributors have two major customer groups, the kitchen and bathroom retail specialists which account for 46% of the distributors sales and the builders merchants with 33%.  Others include DIY outlets, other retailers such as department stores, electrical independents and contractors.

For more information, click http://www.furniture-info.com/1038.htm


AKTRIN is a report writing and international consulting firm fully dedicated to the furniture industry. The company has been in existence since 1985 and maintains offices in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Germany . Representatives and affiliates are located throughout the world.
For more information click:
http://www.furniture-info.com/1038.htm

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