NEWS


Dunelm reports increase in first-quarter sales D


unelm has seen its first-quarter sales up 9%,


largely driven by volume, as customers continued to revamp their, bedding and home decorations despite the ongoing cost-of-living crisis. The homewares


retailer said both its stores and digital channels ‘performed well’, with the contribution from digital sales up 2 percentage points year- on-year to 35% as looks to ‘take further market share.’ Chief executive, Nick Wilkinson, said: “Our proposition, which offers an increasingly wide range of homewares products, continues


to prove popular with customers, as we delivered another strong sales performance in Q1. We continue to have a laser focus on outstanding value, and customers can now find even more choice with the introduction of new ranges such as live plants. “We are reaching more and more UK consumers through our expanding store estate, and our latest marketing campaign, which is our biggest to date, showcases the breadth of the Dunelm offer, reinforcing our position as ‘The Home of Homes’. While noting that the UK economy and consumer outlooks still


remain relatively uncertain, Dunelm said it is well placed to deliver ongoing sustainable growth. Wilkinson added: “There remains a significant opportunity for Dunelm to take further market share and we are excited about the progress we are making against our plans, through targeted and thoughtful investment, in order to seize the compelling opportunities ahead of us.”


Bodum bolsters UK presence with new appointment


energise its presence in the UK market


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Spearheading this move is Gareth Till who has joined as country manager UK from simplehuman where he was retail sales director EMEA. “I’m thrilled to have joined such a well-known and prestigious brand as Bodum, being given this opportunity to lead and contribute to the growth and success of a business committed to quality, sustainability and design excellence,” he said.


Bodum was established in 1944 in Copenhagen, Denmark


by Peter Bodum senior. Jorgen Bodum, son of founder, Peter, took over the business in the 1970s then moving to Switzerland later in that decade, placing the business at the heart of Europe. Bodum remains a 100% family-owned company. It established itself on the international stage with the launch of the Santos vacuum coffee maker in 1958 but it was its first French press coffee maker, the Bistro, launched by Jorgen when he took over the business in 1974, which was arguably the product that made a real impact especially in the UK. Commenting on Till’s appointment and the direction of the business in the UK, Peter Bodum, said: “We are very excited to welcome Gareth to Bodum and get started on reshaping a market that has been incredible for us over many years. We see that there are many opportunities in the UK that we need to work on and we believe with Gareth leading our new team it will bring back some strong relationships.”


s Bodum approaches its 80th anniversary in 2024, the business is looking to re-


RKW invests in £100k solar panel installation


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KW has highlighted its commitment to reduce its carbon footprint. As part of a long-term plan to become more self-sufficient and introduce green


energy to the company, solar panels have been installed at the Stone Distribution Centre in an investment worth £100,000. The introduction of solar panels will see RKW reduce their


reliance on external energy sources, with internal batteries that can store energy to ensure none is wasted, allowing for the excess energy to be used during periods when the panels might not be as efficient, such as nighttime. This allows the company to enjoy greater energy independence and cut energy bills, as well as CO2 emissions in the long-term. The 750,000 square metre Stone Distribution Centre houses 220 workers and the installation of solar panels will see a huge drop in CO2 emissions, with over 18,000kg per year expected to be saved. By investing heavily in sustainable and renewable energy sources, the Distribution Centre will become 11% more self-sufficient, allowing the company to become more energy efficient and environmentally friendly. RKW managing director, Rob Sutton, said: “It’s a great first


step to take, and we will continue to find ways to decrease our carbon emissions through product updates, less packaging and green energy. Our decreased energy bills will allow us to pass savings onto our customers and will help us continue fulfilling our mission of providing high quality products for unbeatable value.”


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