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BKUQ&A Q&A Meet the Sponsors


In the run up to the BKU Awards this year, we are delighted to be profiling a selection of sponsors who contribute so much to making the Awards the success they are. In our first profile this month, we hear from Quooker’s UK MD Stephen Johnson.


Tell us about your company Quooker is the original and only true boiling water tap brand on the market. In 1970, Quooker was formed after founder Henri Peteri saw the need and market gap for an appliance that gives instant hot water. Quooker – meaning ‘quick cooker’ – has now become a household essential for millions across the globe. Offering boiling, hot, cold, sparkling, filtered and chilled water all from one source, Quooker offers the tap that does it all. Leading the way with design and technical innovation, Quooker offers world- class customer service and unparalleled product variety. As a company, we also strive for sustainability in all fields. With people and protection of the planet at the forefront of our minds, we are continually striving to create products that encourage more responsible consumption and have refurbished our premises and manufacturing plants, ensuring all our energy needs are entirely met by solar energy.


Why was it important for you to sponsor an award this year? Sponsoring the BKU Awards is our privilege. After the last 18 months, being able to celebrate quality brands in our sector and shining a light on those individuals and companies that have gone the extra mile in terms of customer care, design, or services to the industry more widely, is an honour. The BKU Awards is one of the finest schemes for recognising excellence within the KBB sector – representing a truly independent stamp of approval. Through sponsorship, we are happy to be able to help and lend our support.


What lessons do you think can be drawn from the pandemic? How will they inform your plans going forward? Throughout the pandemic and resultant lockdowns, we have tried to support the wider industry wherever possible. During a crisis such as this, brands are faced with two choices. To shrivel


up and remain inward focused, or to work together sharing expertise and resources, to help the industry re-build, recover and thrive. At Quooker, we have become increasingly conscious that bigger brands have a wider responsibility of care, wherever that support is needed most. This support is something we intend to continue giving going forward. We have also seen the huge benefit of virtual


working with our dealers and customers. The pandemic took us off the road, but we adapted and have developed a strong and more efficient business model that allows for virtual consultations and virtual installations. Not only are we helping reduce our carbon footprint, but we continue to give customers unparalleled customer service.


The KBB market has shown itself to be resilient to the immediate effects of the pandemic, but do you see any longer-lasting issues which could cause problems in the future? Where do you see challenges for your business this year and next? As we have weathered the Covid storm and looked at how our own workforce operates, this crisis has been helpful in shining a light on the sizeable, and growing, skills gap the UK is facing. High consumer demand for installation and after-sales care is increasingly unable to be met with any speed and in many cases, without any guarantee of quality. No matter how many taps we sell or indeed any kitchens and bathrooms across the industry, if there are not enough installers to keep pace, there is an inevitable bottleneck. Installation is one of the most important parts of


our industry. It is the lasting taste a customer or company feels about your business. To me, there is no question greater value needs to be placed on installers. That is why we have partnered with the BIKBBI to support its ‘Apprenticeship Scheme’ which looks to invest in the next generation of qualified and highly competent individuals, to


ensure we have a good supply. Put simply, if we do not invest in this area, business fails – we would encourage other businesses to do the same.


What is the driving factor behind your brand’s success? Great people, great products, hard work and a willingness to be flexible. At Quooker we know we are only as strong as our workforce. I believe that if you invest in the right people and look after them well, they will work hard for you in return and the business with succeed. We also rely heavily on our relationships with


our dealers and are incredibly thankful to each one who has continued to help us get taps into so many kitchens. Our business success or failure is determined by our ability to build and strengthen these relationships. Our whole business strategy is therefore based around this dealer-first mentality. We are absolutely committed to them and understand that we need to engage our dealers to develop the business for our mutual benefit. The challenge is that as everyone’s business is different – only by understanding each business individually can you deliver a bespoke approach that works for both parties. It goes without saying that without a world-


class product, everything else is pointless. We have spent the time, through constant research, development and testing, developing market leading innovation and design. The form and function of our taps are unparalleled – we take great pride in being the best and believe our product genuinely makes people’s lives better.


What are the big trends for 2021? The way we are consuming water is changing. A large part of this shift is due to a growing awareness around our collective environmental responsibility. With sustainability increasingly at the forefront of consumer purchase decisions, it has never been more important to find creative solutions around responsible consumption. A topic close to our heart, Quooker is determined to provide products and manufacturing techniques that do not cost the earth. The Quooker CUBE addresses this demand by offering a more sustainable alternative to sparkling water. The average UK household uses a staggering 360 plastic bottles per year, resulting in huge volumes of waste nationwide. However, one cannister of CO2 yields 60 litres of carbonated water, significantly reducing the need for single use plastic. Dispensing precisely the amount of sparkling water at any given moment, with canisters that can be returned and re-filled after use CUBE ensures more responsible consumption.


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