Netherlands-based kitchen manufacturer, Keller Kitchens, has set out its plans to expand its contracts offering to UK housebuilders.
The Dutch company, part of the DKG Group, has been a carbon-neutral kitchen manufacturer since 2017, and has ambitions to become carbon-negative.
Tim Spann, Keller’s UK national sales manager, said: “We have a contract kitchen market share in the Netherlands of around 70%. When I joined Keller in late 2019, to head up sales and the running of the UK operation, it became clear that contract kitchens were a specialty we were not promoting in the UK. We had delivered a small number of projects here via retailers but, in 2020, as part of our newly formulated strategy for the UK, we started our concerted effort to work in partnership with a limited number of contract kitchen specialists.”
“Our full range of products is available for the developer market and we have some volume-based options that help us hit price points and multiple budget levels. More is expected of the kitchen than ever before, as kitchen life has expanded further into the home. Often kitchen, dining and living spaces see no solid divides, especially with modern apartment living, but it is also a trend in houses. The heart of the home has morphed into the heart and soul of the home.”
Keller has over 2,000 colours in its portfolio, with greys, blues and greens on the rise, together with the popularity of natural colours and natural materials, such as veneers and solid woods.
Spann continued: “Handleless kitchens still out-sell kitchens with handles by a long way, as they give developers the opportunity to offer clean lines and contemporary styling. Good design with clever use of space-maximising storage solutions is key to a good contract kitchen. A good kitchen is not exclusive to a large volume of space. A good kitchen is one that answers the brief, within the space available, within the budget, while meeting buyer aspirations. Good kitchens sell houses.”
Keller’s kitchen factory in Bergen op Zoom in the Netherlands is one of the largest in Europe, with major investments into the production facility and new technology, together with an inspiration centre and a contemporary showroom.
