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What Kitchen Architecture says:

"Our approach has always been friendly and relaxed. Always ensuring happy customers has enabled us to work with leading players in the interiors market and through these recommendations, we have built up a loyal client base."

The 2010 winner of this award is back in the running for 2011 after demonstrating that it has not rested on its laurels. Founded in Oxford in 2002 with three employees, it is now the largest independent designer and retailer of bulthaup kitchens in Europe, opening its second showroom in London in 2009. Its fl agship Putney showroom was once a disused mini-market, comprising of ground-fl oor-sales area and basement storeroom, turned now into a two-storey 2800sq ft architectural show piece. Turnover has increased by 50%, from £3.6 million to £5.4 million since last year and it has started an expansion plan at its Putney showroom by purchasing the property next door.

 


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Founded by Tom and Sue Gledhill in 1978 as a small building company, Cambridge Kitchens opened its first showroom in Cambridge in 1986, this was followed by a second in Newmarket in 1991 and a third in Bishop's Stortford in 2006. Tom and Sue remain shareholders, but they have now handed over the reins to co-owners and managers Dylan and Sarah Wade-Gledhill. Despite the recent economy, the business has maintained its profi t margins and in 2010 began a partnership with the Cambridge Cookery School following the installation of its teaching kitchen, a great piece of cross-client marketing that sends clients back and forth.		 01geddes mastretkit
In a slightly different guise, kitchen retail veteran Jim Geddes has won this award twice before - first in 1997, and then in 2004. In 2007 it merged with two other companies to form Kitchens International in a bid to increase its contract market share, however after just two years they decided to go back to the original setup. Now Jim's company, Kitchens by J.S. Geddes, is back stronger than ever and once again in the running for the Master Retailer Award. The company's turnover has increased year-onyear since its inception in 1984 to the current £2.5m. It has a close relationship with a local cooking school and holds regular 'demo and dine' evenings.		 01parkes mastretkit
Parkes Interiors was founded in 1993 by Brian Parkes, aged 23, and his father Albert, aged 54, with just £12,000. The company now has an impressive £1m yearly turnover, a testament to the hard work of the family, but especially Brian after his father retired in 2005. It is a very well planned and meticulous business, with 2% of turnover dedicated to marketing and increased margins even during a very diffi cult market thanks to overhead reductions and better supplier terms. It has bought its building outright and during 2011, Parkes Interiors is aggressively moving into the handmade traditional kitchen market, investing heavily in new displays and marketing.