Customer Focus: Kitchens | 27
POSITIVE LONGER- TERM PROSPECTS
According to the AMA Research’s Residential Kitchen Furniture Market Report UK 2024-2028, the sector should see solid growth in coming years. Mike Jeffree reports
TTJ: HOW DID THE KITCHEN SECTOR FARE IN 2023/24 ACCORDING TO AMA ANALYSIS? AMA: The market showed strong growth in 2021 and 2022, as adverse effects of the pandemic declined, reaching a peak level for the kitchen furniture sector. Unfortunately, this pattern was not sustained in 2023, as the economy stalled, with high government debt following the pandemic, the ongoing war in Ukraine, and continuing historically high energy costs. The total market declined in 2023. However, the market is forecast to improve from there, reaching 4% growth in 2028.
TTJ: ARE ANY PARTS OF THE KITCHEN SECTOR FORECAST TO DO BETTER THAN OTHERS? AMA: The kitchen furniture and worktops sub-sectors are expected to grow slightly more quickly than the sinks market sub- sector. They are expected to experience growth of +4% in 2028, compared to the sinks sub-sector estimated at +3% in 2028.
TTJ: WHAT ARE THE KEY ROUTES TO MARKET? AMA: UK distribution of residential kitchen furniture comprises eight channels – trade outlets – mainly builders’ and joinery merchants, home improvement multiples, furniture multiples, retail specialists, direct contract, direct sales, department stores, and online retailers.
The leading channels are trade outlets, home improvement multiples, and retail specialists, retaining 85% of the distribution market.
Many retail specialists are also important manufacturers in the residential kitchen furniture market. Regarding home improvement multiples, their range development suggests greater interest in higher quality kitchens.
TTJ: WHAT ARE THE KEY MATERIAL TRENDS FOR KITCHEN FURNITURE? AMA: While market shares have remained fairly static in recent years, there’s been a trend towards higher value products, such as
Above: Howden’s Hockley super-matt fir-green and oak handleless kitchen
granite, quartz and comparable materials in the worktops sector.
TTJ: WHAT HAS BEEN THE TREND IN USE OF WOOD? AMA: Wood has proven to be fashionable, with the growth of Shaker style kitchens in contemporary and traditional sectors. It has also been popular in the selection of handles, with pewter, brass and brushed aluminium also popular.
At the upper end of the market, kitchen islands and peninsular units are popular. As far as materials are concerned, these feature laminates, foils, wood and wood veneers, while high gloss acrylics, frosted glass and stainless steel are also used.
MDF/foil wrap doors still account for the largest part of the market, although solid wood and veneer or veneer panel doors retain a significant share, with light colours, such as maple, beech and pale oaks continuing to be popular.
As far as kitchen worktop materials are concerned, laminate dominates, with granite in second place, followed by engineered stone and then solid surface or composite. Laminate products have been losing market share as other materials have become more fashionable, particularly, engineered stone, where the number of suppliers has increased, and average prices have reduced.
TTJ: WHAT HAVE BEEN LATEST TRENDS IN TERMS OF PRICE POINT? AMA: With an increased number of suppliers fighting for market share, the average price of kitchen worktop materials has reduced.
However, overall, with prices increasing for raw materials, it is possible prices could rise and inhibit growth of the market. For customers interested in the pricing aspect, the price comparison website, www.
kitchen-compare.com, can be used to check prices at retailers, such as, B&Q, IKEA, Wickes, Magnet, John Lewis, Wren and Homebase, while another website, www.
kitchencomparetrade.com, enables installers and builders to compare trade prices for different kitchen layouts.
TTJ: SO, PROSPECTS FOR THE KITCHEN SECTOR ARE POSITIVE? AMA: In the next five years, the market is expected to stabilise and see slow but steady growth.
An increase in public RMI activity, and the new housing target set by the government is likely to provide a boost to the sector. We project the residential kitchen furniture market in 2028 to show 14.4% growth over 2020 levels.
In setting targets, however, kitchen manufacturers and distributors should be wary though that it is incredibly unlikely the government will hit their five-year 1.5 million new homes target. Our forecasts for the kitchen industry take this into account. The desperate shortage of newly qualified installers will also eventually pose a threat to kitchen market growth, with much greater attention needed from the industry on passing on expertise to younger professionals. Additionally, sustainability in materials used and circularity principles are also forecast to be more present in the market and may create a competitive advantage for timber as consumer awareness increases. ■
FURTHER INFORMATION
AMA is AMA Research, Part of Barbour ABI Ltd. For more and to purchase the full AMA report go to:
https://bit.ly/3Xcvc2B
www.ttjonline.com | March/April 2025 | TTJ
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