NEWS | Round-up
Kitchens International acquired by James Donaldson & Sons Group
KITCHENS INTERNATIONAL (KI) has joined the James Donaldson and Sons (JDS) brand line-up as part of an acquisition deal. Award-winning independent retailer KI has six showrooms across Scotland and has an established reputation for luxury kitchens. It operates in the retail and contract sectors, with an 80-strong team of professionals. KI has joined the JDS brand portfolio, which includes MGM Timber, Donaldson Timber Engineering and James Donaldson Timber.
By joining the JDS brand line-up, KI will benefit strategically and opera- tionally from the current JDS complementary manufacturing and trade portfolio. This will support both the existing KI offering and future sector expansion, with an extended suite of luxury options for contract and retail clients.
Commenting on the acquisition by
JDS, Gerry Watson, managing director of KI (pictured on right with JDC CEO Andrew Donaldson), said: “Over the past 27 years, we are proud to have grown KI to become a leading UK kitchen brand and are excited that our next growth chapter will be part of the JDS Group. With shared values and
vision, together we can provide greater opportunity for all clients, staff, suppliers and brand ambassadors.” He added: “This will further enhance our combined passion for creating the best kitchens and we envisage clients will, for many decades, continue to enjoy the KI experience.”
Victorian Plumbing reveals flotation plan on Stock Exchange AIM
ONLINE BATHROOM retailer Victorian plumbing has announced that it has applied to be listed on the London Stock Exchange’s AIM. To do this it would re-register as a public limited company. The Alternative Investment Market (AIM) is a sub-market of the London Stock Exchange.
Victorian Plumbing said it was expecting admission to the AIM to take place on or around June 22.
The company offers more than 24,000 products and accessories for the entire bathroom from more than 125 brands and claims to be the leading online specialist by revenue in 2020, with a market share of 14.2%. It also says that its brand awareness increased from 50% to 64% between February 2018 and February 2021. Its website boasted 23 million unique visitors during the financial year ended September 30, 2020, during which it recorded total revenue of £208.7 million and profits of £26.2m (EBITDA). In the six months to March 31 this year, it delivered revenue of £140.7m, with profits of £20.1m.
It claims high customer satisfaction ratings and a Trustpilot rating of 4.3.
Commenting on the flotation, founder and chief executive Mark Radcliffe (pictured) said: “Victorian Plumbing is the most recognised online bathroom brand in the UK. We work hard every day to make sure we are providing consumers with the largest choice of quality bathroom products. Our approach is industry-leading, as evidenced by our sub - stantial and growing market share. “It’s been a fantastic and eventful journey growing Victorian Plumbing over the past two decades. Our early and sustained investment in digital retailing and the advantages that brings has allowed us to make the most of the structural shift in consumers increasingly looking to buy bathroom products online.
“I’m incredibly proud of all of our employees who have built this unique business and, in the process, have developed an incredibly strong, exciting and trusted brand together with a hard-working and innovative culture. “As we are now the leading online retailer of bathroom products in the UK, it seems the ideal time to join the UK stock market. With the deep sector expertise and talent of our senior team members and the fundamental strengths of our proven business model within a growing market, we are excited for the significant growth opportunities that lie ahead for Victorian Plumbing.”
Victorian Plumbing also revealed details of its growth plans for the future. In the near-term, it plans to grow its position in the B2C bathrooms market with new product development and innovation, continue its marketing investments and improvements, continue to improve its customer experience, continue to leverage the current home-improvement boom, introduce a dedicated team to drive trade sales, and grow revenue by expanding its product lines.
In the medium term, it plans to expand into new adjacent product categories and move into certain markets in Europe.
4 · July 2021
The KI brand, staff and showroom will remain unchanged.
Speaking on behalf of JDS, chief executive Andrew Donaldson said: “It is a privilege to welcome the Kitchens International team to our JDS family. We anticipate exciting times ahead both within the kitchen market and its associated interiors, including bathroom and home office.
“Adding the KI brand to our current portfolio will yield strong synergistic opportunities for both businesses. The most important thing will be people, and we are looking forward to working with Kitchens International across both the board and the full team. Together, as one family, we are well placed to build the KI brand for the future.” Over the years, KI has been a multiple winner in the kbbreview Retail & Design Awards, including Kitchen Retailer of the Year and Showroom Award for Kitchens.
CDUK rebrands as it plans for future growth
CDUK HAS rebranded with a new logo and website as the Leeds- based company prepares to expand its product portfolio as part of an ambitious growth plan. CDUK is an exclusive distributor of Corian Solid Surface in the UK and Ireland and also includes products such as sinks and taps in its portfolio. The rebrand is said to signify the evolution of the brand and its journey towards continued success with its loyal customers and new partners. CDUK is also currently expanding its product range and developing its services to help keep it “at the forefront of design and project realisation for many years to come”.
A CDUK statement said: “Our new logo symbolises a dynamic new start, built on solid foundations. It represents the multiple interconnected facets of our business, including quality products, skills, training, and delivery – every aspect of surface design.” Divisional managing director Andy Noble commented: “We felt this year was the perfect time to freshen up the CDUK brand and to look towards the future, building on the solid foundations we have established over the past four decades.”
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