2023: A review of the year in housewares

It’s that time of year again – we’re winding down for the Christmas break, and taking a look back at the last 12 months in the housewares industry.

JANUARYRichard Walker (2)

Eddingtons’ Richard Walker kicked off 2023 with a promotion to managing director, while industry charity, The Rainy Day Trust began the celebrations for its 180th anniversary.

PHA KitchEssentials sadly decided to close its doors after a 23-year run, with Eddingtons taking on distribution of a number of the brands.

Ambiente (1)FEBRUARY

Following a two-year enforced break, Ambiente made a sensational comeback for its 2023 show, with 154,000 retailers from around the world in attendance.

Burton McCall signed an exclusive agreement to distribute NoStik in the UK in February. The Inspired Home Show and IHA announced the winners of the annual Global Innovation Awards,

MARCHInspired Home Show 2023 (2)

In March, the Inspired Home Show in Chicago reported a strong performance, and the IHA and the show announced the winners of the Gia Excellence in Product Design awards, and the Retail Excellence Awards.

What More acquired pre-finished metal supplier, Firsteel, and retailer, and Exclusively sold out of exhibition space earlier than ever before, while Wusthof appointed Carl Branigan as UK and Ireland country head.

Scotts of Stow was bought out of administration in a pre-pack sale.

Progressive Preschool featured image (30)APRIL

The annual Progressive Housewares Retail Barometer showed that almost half of indies reported increased sales in 2022. Tupperware engaged financial advisors as it warned it may go out of business.

Smeg and Prestige were honoured at the annual Brand and Lifestyle Licensing Awards.

MAY

In May, retailers went Union Jack crazy as the UK prepared for the King’s Coronation. The IHA announced changes for the 2024 InspiredCoronation cookshops (2) Home Show, including a drop to three days from the usual four.

RKW acquired porcelain and earthenware brand, Wade, while Burton McCall joined forces with GreenPan.

HORL (2)JUNE

Horl 1993 launched in the UK market in June and Next upgraded its profit forecast following an overperformance in sales.

Visitors to Exclusively exceeded pre-Covid figures at June’s show

 

JULY

ProCook appointed Lee Tappenden as its new ceo at the beginning of July, before Sutton Venture Group made another acquisition – this timeSwan RKW (1) Swan Brands, which it planned to integrate into RKW. Consumer Brands became the official licensee for Morphy Richards in the UK

 

Wilko (1)AUGUST

High Street retailer, Wilko, fell into administration in August.

KitchenAid appointed Justin Delapa as general manager EMEA.

 

SEPTEMBER

The Wilko news continued in September as B&M bought 51 of the stores, while elsewhere in retail, Woodbridge Kitchen Company opened aAldeburgh Kitchen Company (1) second store in the town of Aldeburgh. Sustainable housewares brand ReBorn launched into John Lewis, and OXO installed a new interactive branded fixture into the retailer’s Oxford Street store, and Dunelm reported a record year of sales. And finally, Georg Jensen was bought by Fiskars.

OCTOBER

EIHA (2)The annual Excellence in Housewares awards winners were announced in a glittering ceremony in London at the beginning of October.

Eddingtons celebrated 70 years of Fissler pressure cookers with a month of activity in Harrods in October. Meanwhile Ultimate Products opened its new European showroom in Paris. And The Range resurrected Wilko’s website, while Tefal and Jamie Oliver celebrated the 20th anniversary of their partnership.

Gareth Till joined Bodum as country manager, and the IHA announced the global honorees for the gia Top Window Awards to round off a bumper month of housewares news.

NOVEMBER

Cookware brand, Vinod, launched into the UK in November. Gabi Schupp was named as the new ceo for Villeroy & Boch, while Spring andVilleroy and Boch (1) Autumn Fair also strengthened its team.

Style sisters x captivate brands (1)DECEMBER

Captivate Brands added to its licensed roster with a partnership with the Style Sisters at the beginning of this month, and EPE International became the exclusive UK and European distributor for Hamilton Beach. Allinox acquired French cookware brand, Baumalu, and Wilko returned to the high street under its new owner, The Range.

MORE NEWS
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The collaboration reflects Spring Fair’s commitment to supporting the evolving needs of cultural, heritage and destination buyers....
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Total revenue for the first half, ended 13 October 2024, increased 7.5% to £28.3m....
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This year’s monies will fund 19 charity projects across the world....
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