| Worrying rise in gas cooker deaths
A gas safety charity has warned that the number of carbon monoxide deaths involving gas cookers has increased ten fold in the last year. | |
| Life is Sweet for AB Distributors
AB Distributors, one of Northern Ireland's largest premium kitchen appliance distributors, has launched a new retail initiative designed to help its 300 customers compete with, among other things, internet-only dealers as well as the challenging economic environment. | |
| Slow recovery for shower market
The shower equipment market is showing some signs of recovery, but it will be slow with at least two years of consolidation before significant growth, according to a new AMA report. | |
| Nobia sells Pronorm following tricky year
Swedish kitchen giant Nobia, the parent company of, among others, Magnet and Poggenpohl has sold German brand Pronorm. | |
| UK appliance market worth £3.3bn
The major domestic appliance market in the UK totalled £3.3 billion last year - down 3.5% | |
| New distributor for Jax Bathrooms
UK manufacturer Jax Bathrooms has appointed FBS Ltd to distribute its products in Scotland starting this month. | |
| Brand New York for William Wilson customers
A retailer and a supplier, each with more than 100 years trading history behind them, have joined up to offer a consumer a trip to New York worth £2,500. | |
| Two new distributors for Franke
Kitchen supplier Franke has appointed two new distributors - Leaker Direct and Cooper Callas. Both will offer the full range of the company's sinks, taps, hoods and other products. | |
| V&B predicts bathroom trends
Bathroom brand Villeroy & Boch has released details of what it believes will be the principle bathroom design and fashion trends for 2010 and beyond. | |
| Worktop market drops by 10% in 2009
The kitchen and bathroom worktop market was hit hard by the 2008 and 2009 downturn, with sales falling by up to 16%, according to a new report. | |
| Recession slashes kitchen furniture market by £250m
The kitchen furniture market lost £250 million of sales during the recession, according to a new report. | |
| New suppler directory launched
Kbbreview columnist Tim Foley has launched a new directory for consumers and trade to find kitchen suppliers and retailers. | |
| Positive year for Howden
Howden Joinery, one of the biggest kitchen retailers in the UK, saw sales drop in 2009 but is predicting higher profits thanks to a Christmas boost. | |
| Rebrand for EasyQuote
Business management software provider EasyQuote is changing its name to EQ Software. The timing has been chosen to mark the company's tenth anniversary and its presence at kbb Birmingham. | |
| Masco laments "difficult" year
Masco, the US-based parent company of some of the biggest brands in bathrooms, has labelled 2009 "one of the more difficult economic environments [it] has ever experienced." | |
| UK bucks trend for under pressure Nobia
Nobia, the parent company of brands including Magnet, Poggenpohl, Gower, Hygena and Pronorm, has suffered a poor year with significant losses despite the UK market pushing into profit. | |
| Installers slam multiples over slashed pay
Kitchen, bedroom and bathroom installers have reacted angrily to cost saving measures that they claim are being employed by a number of the major multiples. | |
| Roper Rhodes plies its 'trade'
Members of the Roper Rhodes group product development team dressed up as trade counter salespeople last month to launch their new brand to its sales force. | |
| Alno unveils '2013' strategic plan
German kitchen manufacturer Alno AG, has initiated what it calls a 'comprehensive strategy' to boost the company's medium to long term fortunes. | |
What do you think? Email the editor direct: andrew@kbbreview.com
