Six product categories grew in sales last year for the majority of respondents in Progressive Housewares’ Retail Barometer – unprecedented in the past decade of PH Retail Barometers. The 16th annual Retail Barometer gathered data from independent cookshops and housewares stockists from across the UK.
The ‘standout’ category is bakeware, showing growth for 73% as the UK turned into a nation of lockdown home bakers. Knives experienced the next strongest growth- for 64% of independents in the survey, followed by Tools and Gadgets (52%). Cookware was also a strong performer, including stainless steel and non-stick, while cast iron cookware (on a downward spiral for many years) has seen a bounce back as consumers have invested in durable kitchenware for home cooking. Recreating the pub or bar experience at home has also given a boost to barware.
For the full findings of the Retail Barometer, including category by category performance, see Progressive Housewares March/April 2021.
Top: Consumers turned to home baking during lockdowns. Image is of Tala Silver Anodised from George East Housewares.
