ProCook has announced that 2020-2021 has been its highest yielding year ever, with sales hitting £64.5m, a 35% increase on 2019-20. The kitchenware chain has doubled its expected growth, delivering £10m plus profit.
The chain attributes its record breaking year to its agile systems, which enabled fast response to the challenges of the pandemic, along with increased consumer demand for kitchenware, and a significant growth in its newly expanded tableware category.
Despite acknowledging strong online growth, the announcement coincides with ProCook’s new store opening in the flagship retail destination of Bluewater in Kent, and news of a forthcoming opening in Cribbs Causeway in Bristol.
“ProCook remains committed to offering bricks and mortar retail stores and these new stores will enable so many more customers to experience our exceptional service and feel the quality of our products for themselves,” commented retail director Andy Kerr on the chain’s UK expansion. “We’re confident our expansion plans will continue to deliver growth for the foreseeable future.”
Outside the UK, the retailer has launched a hub in the Netherlands to service European markets. The 5000sq ft warehouse with offices marks the first phase of ProCook’s international expansion. It will be followed by the opening of several European ProCook stores later in the year.
Founder Daniel O’Neill stated: “By stepping up to meet the opportunities presented to us in the past year we’ve achieved some incredible numbers and accelerated our plans to expand internationally.”
* To celebrate ProCook’s Bluewater opening, the retailer is holding a prize draw for one lucky customer to win a private two hour cooking class with celebrity chef Tom Aikens, at his restaurant Muse by Tom Aikens. Tom recently partnered with ProCook to help launch its Damascus 67 Knife Range, creating a series of ‘How To’ films to help home cooks get the best from their kitchen knives.
* Meanwhile, ProCook’s Ashford store in Kent has been completely updated with greater floor area, expanding its core ranges of cookware, kitchen knives, tableware and kitchen accessories sections as well as providing more space for an enhanced customer experience.
Top: Some of ProCook’s knives ranges displayed at the new Bluewater store.
