Executive Summary
Fitted kitchens comprise wall-mounted and/or floorstanding domestic furniture such as cupboards and drawers, as well as the appliances, sinks and worktops which are often supplied with them. It is estimated that around 850,000 kitchens are sold annually in the UK. In 1999, these were worth £805.4m at manufacturers' selling prices (msp) and an estimated £1.5bn at retail selling prices (rsp).
The market is segmented into flat-pack furniture, which predominates, and rigid furniture, which includes custom-built kitchens. The flat-pack sector accounts for a larger volume than value share, as a result of its lower unit value. Nevertheless, the difference between the two types of furniture is being narrowed from a quality point of view.
Worktops, sinks and kitchen appliances also contribute to the fitted kitchens market. In 1999, the worktop market was worth an estimated £100m at msp, with laminates predominating, and the sinks market was worth £102m at msp, with stainless steel being the key material used.
Total sales of kitchen appliances were worth an estimated £2.48bn at rsp in 1999, which represents growth of 5.1% on 1998. Washing machines comprise the largest sector by value.
Kitchen furniture is distributed by a variety of different means, including kitchen specialists, multiple DIY sheds, builders' merchants, direct to the public, direct to larger housebuilders and through various retailers. Some of the retailers assemble mixed and matched components that they then market as their own brands. The kitchen specialists enjoy a reputation for high design and are regarded as being the most innovative in the marketplace. MFI Furniture Group PLC is the market leader by volume and is vertically integrated as both manufacturer and retailer, promoting the Hygena and Schreiber brands. 1999 saw a major change in the marketplace when The Spring Ram Corporation PLC was acquired by US Industries Incorporated, which resulted in the sale of several brands in 2000.
Consumer research shows that 63.6% of households have or own fitted kitchen units and penetration of household appliances is unsurprisingly high, with microwave ovens at 73.8%, automatic frontload washing machines at 72.7% and refrigerators at 60.4%. The replacement market therefore represents a key area for leading appliance manufacturers such as General Domestic Appliances Ltd, Electrolux Household Appliances Ltd and Whirlpool (UK) Ltd.
Against a background of comparatively favourable economic conditions and a positive housing market, Key Note forecasts that the UK market for kitchen furniture will increase by 8.2% between 2000 and 2004, to £897m at msp. Over the same period, sales of kitchen appliances are forecast to increase by 17.5% to £3.06bn at rsp.
Nineth Edition 2000
Edited by Simon Howitt
ISBN 1-85765-869-8
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