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.
JANUARY
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.
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,
MARCH
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.
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 Inspired
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.
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 time
Swan Brands, which it planned to integrate into RKW. Consumer Brands became the official licensee for Morphy Richards in the UK
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 a
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
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 and
Autumn Fair also strengthened its team.
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.
