CDA MANAGING DIRECTOR CHRIS WARD THE ERT INTERVIEW
16
‘W‘We remain a humble British business’ e remain a humble British business’
CDA has been through a period of change and renewal, but its roots in independent kitchen showrooms still shape the business today. Managing Director Chris Ward talks to Will McGill about heritage, consumer-led innovation, and why being small can sometimes be an advantage in a competitive market.
W
hen Chris Ward joins our interview, he speaks with the calm confidence of someone who has navigated a demanding year and
emerged with a clear sense of purpose. Open, thoughtful, and notably grounded, he expresses a genuine fondness for the business he now leads. “We’re a humble British business,” he says early in the conversation, almost as a guiding principle. “We have been through a lot of change, but what has not changed is our commitment to serving our partners and their customers. That has always been at the heart of CDA.”
That sentiment sets the tone for the rest of our discussion. Mr Ward returns often to themes of humility, responsibility, and clarity, values that reflect the heritage of the company itself. To understand the present, he believes it helps to look back.
A business built around showrooms and service
CDA was founded in 1991 by Ian Kershaw, a British entrepreneur with an eye for opportunity and a deep respect for independent kitchen retailers. Those early days were about building trust with showrooms, supplying well-designed products, and offering the kind of responsive support that larger brands often struggled to provide.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48
