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THE K&BZINE ISSUE 173 15th December 2006
Another
Record Year for Neff
2006
has been another record year for built in appliance brand, Neff.
Even before the end of year results are finalised, the company
has announced an impressive 11% increase in appliance sales over
2005.
[More
on this Story]
Not
So Happy New Year in the KBB Manufacturers Market
2006
has been a highly competitive year for the kitchen, bedroom &
bathroom manufacturers industry, although some companies have
been enjoying historically high margins. But 2007 promises even
tougher times, according to David Pattison, senior analyst with
Plimsoll
[More
on this Story]
Bathstore
Head Office Opens in Watford
Bathstore,
the country's largest specialist bathroom retailer, has selected
Watford as the site for its new European head office. The grand
opening took place at 1pm on Thursday 7th December with the unveiling
of a commemorative plaque by Rob Marchbank, CEO Wolseley Europe,
Bathstore's parent company.
[More
on this Story]
Homestyle
Agrees Takeover
Tom
Kowalski, finance director of furniture and beds retailer Homestyle
has agreed a takeover by its main shareholder in a deal which
values the Warrington-based firm at up to £326.4m, but which
has been described as 'a face saving exercise' by one analyst.
[More
on this Story]
WEEE
Directive Finally Gets Deadline
Producers
of electrical goods will from July 2007 be required to meet the
environmental costs of dealing with waste products under new rules
published on December 12th. By 15th March 2007 producers will
need to join an approved producer compliance scheme to ensure
that they are able to comply with the Directive from 1st July
2007.
[More
on this Story]
New
Standards for Water Efficiency in New Buildings
Proposals
for minimum standards of water efficiency in new homes and new
commercial buildings in England and Wales were published for consultation
on 13th December.
[More
on this Story]
BMA
Welcomes New Member Deva Taps
North
West-based manufacturer of taps and showers Deva is the latest
company to join the Bathroom Manufacturers Association (BMA) after
attending the BMA Inaugural Conference themed 'Precious Water
- Water Pressures' held in October 2006.
[More
on this Story]
Steve
Cox joins Utopia Furniture Ltd
Ian
Hall and Dave Conn, Joint Managing Directors and co owners, have
announced the appointment of former Jacuzzi UK Managing Director
Steve Cox as their new Managing Director of Utopia Furniture Ltd.
[More
on this Story]
Stainless
Steel Sinks Provide Recyclable Option
Whilst
most householders know that card, paper and plastic can be recycled,
how high is awareness of the recyclability of larger household
items? In the kitchen for example, a stainless steel sink is 70%
recyclable, and an old sink is widely accepted by local authority
recycling centres as part of their scrap metal collections.
[More
on this Story]
Marflow
Brassware Hits the Silver Screen
The
St James collection of bathroom brassware from Marflow Engineering
has taken a starring role in a new award-winning film that's hotly
tipped for next year's Oscars.
[More
on this Story]
Maytag
Extends Capital Bonds Promotion to March 31st 2007
Maytag
UK is kick starting the New Year by extending its Capital Bond
Incentive promotion for retail staff. Originally part of Maytag's
autumn promotion in 2006, the Capital Bonds incentive promotion
has been extended until the end of March 2007.
[More
on this Story]
GE
& Biasco Fuse Partnership
GE has announced that appliance company Biasco has
become the first official retailer to display GE Fusion. As a
leading white goods manufacturer, GE is constantly developing
its product ranges to ensure it offers new innovations for both
trade and consumers.
[More
on this Story]
Carron
Phoenix Holds Two Day Product Launch Event
Carron
Phoenix recently held a two-day product launch event for its distributors
to unveil several new sink and tap additions to its portfolio.
[More
on this Story]
Heating
and Plumbing Event
CMPi,
the organiser of KBB, the UK trade exhibition for kitchens, bedrooms bathrooms
and tiles, is launching a new event for the heating and plumbing industry.
HPE, Heating and Plumbing Event, will take place from 9-12 March 2008
at the NEC, Birmingham.
[More
on this Story]
Glen
Dimplex Supports Customers throughout Christmas
To
make sure Christmas remains as trouble free as possible, customers can
rest assured that Glen Dimplex Home Appliances' Customer Care centre will
be on hand to deal with any cooker questions or problems arising over
the Christmas period.
[More
on this Story]
Miele
Appliance Catalogue Added to Planit Fusion System
Close
collaboration with Miele has resulted in the addition of the company’s
comprehensive home appliance catalogue to Planit International’s
Fusion design and visualisation system.
[More
on this Story]
The
Cool Way to 5 A DAY
Whirlpool
is supporting the 5 A DAY Just Eat More (fruit & veg) programme with
the creation of ‘The Cool Way to 5 A DAY’, a guide to help Britons
eat their 5 A DAY, everyday.
[More
on this Story]
Servis
UK Engineers take New Machines for a Spin
Those
on the road this month may see Servis UK engineers testing the spin on
more than just washing machines. The Company has updated its fleet of
engineer vans, taking delivery of 25 new vehicles from Vardy Contract
Motoring.
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on this Story]
THE K&BZINE ISSUE 172 8th December 2006
Christophe
Gontier Resigns as Managing Director of FagorBrandt UK
After
17 years in the white goods industry, and as one of the most popular,
colourful and longest serving executives in his field, Christophe
Gontier, managing director of FagorBrandt UK has left the company
following his resignation.
[More
on this Story]
PAB
Named in Fastest Growing UK Companies of 2006
Warrington-based
white goods firm, Premium Appliance Brands, has had its achievements
recognised on a national level, after being named in this year's
Sunday Times Fast Track 100 league table, which was published
on 3rd December.
[More
on this Story]
Bathroom
Academy Reaches Milestone
The
BMA's Bathroom Academy reached a milestone this week with the
award of the 100th certificate to a well deserving student for
successfully completing a Core Merit.
[More
on this Story]
Darling
Challenges Industry to Use Design to Increase UK Competitiveness
In
a speech to the Design Council's Competitiveness Summit yesterday
the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, Alistair Darling,
challenges business to use design to increase UK competitiveness
against the rise of low-wage, rapidly expanding developing economies.
[More
on this Story]
Healthy,
Home-Cooked Meals-to-Go Concept Wins Design Lab Competition
Obesity
is one of the greatest public health challenges of the 21st century.
Could newly designed household appliances contribute to a healthier
life style in the future? This was the challenge Electrolux put
to young design students who were asked to come up with solutions
for healthy eating habits for 2016 in the fourth edition of the
Electrolux Design Lab.
[More
on this Story]
Gorenje
Pininfarina Line Receives the Manufacturer's Award 2006
The
jury of the English edition of The Designer magazine has awarded
the Gorenje Pininfarina range the Manufacturer's Award for 2006.
This is the third prize won by this product line in just over
a year on the market.
[More
on this Story]
KBSA
London Meeting is a Success
The
Kitchen Bathroom Bedroom Specialists Association held a successful
regional meeting at the Building Centre in London for Region 6,
(London and the Home Counties). Corporate members Cesana, leading
Italian shower manufacturer and PJH, the UK’s largest kitchen
and bathroom distributor, hosted the event.
[More
on this Story]
Gorenje
UK Sales Up more than 50%
European
kitchen appliance giant Gorenje has announced that year-on-year
UK sales under the Gorenje brand for the first ten months of 2006
have increased by more than 50%, making the company one of the
UK's fastest growing major brands.
[More
on this Story]
Jacuzzi
Annual Income Up to $80.9m, and Debt Reduced
Jacuzzi Brands, Inc has announced financial results for the fourth
quarter and fiscal year ended September 30th, 2006. Net sales
for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2006 rose 7% to $313.5m from
$293.3m for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2005. Operating income
increased to $27.3m from $17.1m over the same period one year
ago.
[More
on this Story]
Which
Washer's Best?
Miele's G 1220 SC freestanding dishwasher has
achieved the number one ranking out of twenty models tested in
the lastest Which? report on dishwashing appliances.
[More
on this Story]
Lawcross
and Kronospan Perfect Partners!
Lawcris
Panel Products celebrates its continued growth and partnership
with Kronospan UK. A current monthly spend of over £1m makes
the panel product supplier Kronospan's largest single site customer
with growth looking set to continue throughout 2007.
[More
on this Story]
Mercury
Chooses Charles Yorke as Showroom Partner
Appliance
manufacturer Mercury has chosen bespoke furniture specialist Charles
Yorke to design the furniture for its new working kitchen showroom.
[More
on this Story]
PJH
Takes a Seat with Haro
Distributor,
the PJH Group, has teamed up with leading German WC seat manufacturer,
Haro Sanitary, and added a wide selection of high quality WC seats to
complement its expanding bathroom portfolio.
[More
on this Story]
Stoves
and Nigella - The Perfect Recipe for Christmas 2006
Stoves
Sterling 1100G stainless steel range cooker is on set for a special three
part series with domestic goddess Nigella Lawson on enjoy cooking over
the festive season.
[More
on this Story]
Clearwater
Featured on Working Lunch
Clearwater
Collection, the largest manufacturer of freestanding baths in Europe,
has recently been featured on BBC 2's business programme 'Working Lunch'.
[More
on this Story]
ECF
Invests with Homag for the Future
Supplier
and manufacturer of quality components to the kitchen, bedroom and bathroom
industries, East Coast Fittings, has made a significant investment in
new equipment to boost the company’s carcase manufacturing capacity.
[More
on this Story]
Whirlpool
and Techtronic Reach Agreement on Hoover Floor-Care Business
Whirlpool
Corporation announced yesterday that it has reached a definitive agreement
to sell the Hoover floor-care business to Techtronic Industries Co. Ltd.
(TTI) for $107 million in cash.
The sale of Hoover Floorcare US does not affect the Hoover brand in Europe.
All Hoover branded products sold in Europe are manufactured by the European-based
Hoover Candy Group.
[More
on this Story]
Search
on for British Small Business Champion
On
the entry form for British Small Business Champions (BSBC) 2007 businesses
are asked to suggest the ideal prize that would benefit
them. The winning business will be given £10,000 to spend as specified.
[More
on this Story]
Bathroom
Industry Comes Together for Inaugural Conference
A
packed audience of representatives from all sectors of the Bathroom Industry
attended the Inaugural Bathroom Conference in Chepstow.
[More
on this Story]
Tapping
into the Market by Design
How exactly does a new Pegler design move from being a twinkle in a designers
eye, to a highly polished, quality chrome plated bathroom tap? Let's take
a look at how one of the most popular Pegler designs - Traun - came to
life.
[More
on this Story]
THE K&BZINE ISSUE 171 1st December 2006
Planit
Announces Change in Ownership
Global CAD/CAM provider Planit has announced today a successful
change to the ownership of the company. Having floated
on the Alternative Investment Market in 1998, the business
now resides in the private sector. The change in ownership
has been facilitated through funding from August Equity
Limited, HSBC Bank PLC and members of the senior management
team.
[More
on this Story]
'Operation
Church' Raids Kitchens
Operation
Church was a major multi agency enforcement operation
targeting Maple Mill trading as 'Kitchens' on Cardwell
Street in Oldham. More than 130 police and trading standards
officers raided the premises in the early hours of Wednesday
29th November 2006.
[More
on this Story]
ALNO
Wins £1m Contract from Berkeley Homes
The
Southern Contracts Division of ALNO has been awarded a
£1m contract by Berkeley Homes to provide the kitchens
for its prestigious 'City Quarter' development. Located
adjacent to the Square Mile, London's thriving financial
district, the City Quarter scheme will comprise a collection
of luxury apartments and penthouses.
[More
on this Story]
Thanks
a Million!
The Bristan Group has announced its millionth order since
installing its IFS computer systems. Keeping tight control
on all aspects of ordering, packaging, purchasing and
delivery is light work for the Bristan Group since it
installed its IFS computer system in July 2004.
[More
on this Story]
Franke
Fantasy Football Winners Enjoy Great Day Out
The
winners of this summer's Franke Fantasy Football in the
kbzine enjoyed a day out at Old Trafford last week when
they went to see Manchester United take on Chelsea in
the top of the table Premiership clash.
[More
on this Story]
Wolseley
Annual Statement 'Broadly in Line'
Business
conditions in the Wolseley plc's principal markets outside
the USA have been broadly in line with comments made in
the Preliminary Results statement for the year ended 31st
July 2006, issued on 25th September 2006.
[More
on this Story]
Indesit
Company Innovation Wins an Award in Australia
Indesit
Company, Europe's no. 2 and the world's no. 5 white goods
maker, has come through the Australian Standard Tests
brilliantly, winning five stars in the Water Rating, with
Aqualtis, the latest of the Ariston washing machines.
[More
on this Story]
Recipe
For Uncertainty In UK KBB Industry
A
study of the UK’s leading kitchen, bedroom &
bathroom manufacturers companies has shown that few are
fully in control of their overall business strategy. The
survey – by business analysts Plimsoll – indicates
a remarkable inconsistency in the companies’ commercial
and financial behaviour.
[More
on this Story]
Heathrow
Terminal 5 Specifies Vitra
International
bathroom brand, VitrA continues to build its contract
presence in the UK having been selected by BAA to provide
sanitaryware solutions to Heathrow's new Terminal 5 (T5)
project.
[More
on this Story]
The
Welsh Decide on their Favourites
Christmas
is likely to be one of the only times of year that the
people of Wales turn off the television and open their
homes to friends and family to host dinner parties, according
to a recent survey.
[More
on this Story]
The
New Face of AFG Begins to Take Shape
Three
months after the groundbreaking ceremony on July 11th,
2006, another milestone in the history of AFG Arbonia-Forster-Holding
AG was reached with the laying of the foundation stone
for the new Corporate Centre.
[More
on this Story]
Bristan
Expands Successful Online Shower Training Academy
Following
the successful launch of the Online Shower Training Academy last
year, Bristan is already expanding the reach of its training.
A new module, Ceiling Fed Showers, is the latest addition to the
academy which is designed to help installers become familiar with
the principles of specifying showers.
[More
on this Story]
Stoves
and Belling Celebrate the Success of the BBC Good Food Show 2006
The
BBC Good Food Show was a big success this year for brands Stoves
and Belling, with an impressive stand, consumer offers and lively
demonstrations of the Genus oven by The Big Chef, Peter Osborne.
[More
on this Story]
HomeStyle
Complaint Not Upheld
A
complaint objecting to three radio ads for HomeStyle, Glasgow
was not upheld according to information published by the Advertising
Standards Authority (ASA).
[More
on this Story]
Trading
Standards joins Forces with UK's leading Trade Association
Brighton
& Hove, Bedfordshire and Slough Trading Standards have all
partnered with a leading trade association, UK Trades Confederation
(UKTC) to develop their directory of reliable and ethical traders.
[More
on this Story]
Foster
Chooses Sabaf for the Alessi Designed Cooktop
As part of the national and international supply agreements witnessing
SABAF an increasingly major role among producers of household
appliance parts, the company from Ospitaletto (Bs) has announced
a new collaboration with Foster, a specialist in the production
of built-in gas cooktops.
[More
on this Story]
Electrolux
Design Lab Competition 2006 Promotes Healthy Eating Habits
Design
students from around the world created inspiring household appliance
solutions for food preservation and storage that promote healthier
eating habits for 2016.
[More
on this Story]
UK
Consumer Credit Facility Targets Home Improvement Market
Retailers
in the home improvement industry have been reaping the rewards
of a new credit facility which has given their customers unprecedented
spending power.
[More
on this Story]