Kesseler Kitchens plans rapid expansion of its franchised showroom network as it responds to growing demand for brand-led retail experiences.
British kitchen franchise Kesseler Kitchens has revealed plans to grow its national network from 17 to 50 showrooms within the next three years.
The company, founded by brothers Scott and Ben Slater in 2010, made the announcement in the latest episode of The kbbreview Podcast. The expansion would make Kesseler one of the largest franchise-led kitchen retail operations in the UK.
“Our goal is 50 showrooms based on mapped territories and data showing where the model works,” said Scott Slater. “We want to reach that number within three years. It’s ambitious, but we’re treating it like a moonshot.”
Kesseler launched its franchise model four years ago after initially operating as a product supplier to independent retailers. The move was accelerated by the disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic, which the Slaters describe as a “pivot point” that enabled them to rethink the structure of their business.
“We realised the best way to deliver a consistent brand experience from manufacturing through to customer installation was to work with aligned partners through franchising,” said Ben Slater. “Independent retailers often have different goals. Franchising allows us to build something coherent.”
The company says franchise retail sales are currently growing at 32% year-on-year. Its Nottinghamshire manufacturing facility also supports online-bedrooms.co.uk – a direct-to-consumer bedroom brand which has delivered over 10,000 rooms and is up 46% so far in 2025.
Scott and Ben say the current retail climate is “tough,” but point to continued consumer demand for home improvement and the strength of their brand-led strategy as key growth drivers.
“There is business out there – customers are just taking longer to decide,” Scott said. “The power of a trusted brand is even more important in that kind of market.”
While the company acknowledges that rapid expansion comes with risks, they say building the necessary infrastructure and leadership is a top priority.
“It’s not just about opening showrooms, we’re building the team and systems behind it at the same time,” said Ben. “We know there will be unknowns, but we’re prepared to learn and adapt.”
The Kesseler expansion is part of the wider growing trend of KBB franchising in the UK.
Listen to the full interview with Scott and Ben Slater from Kesseler in the latest episode of The kbbreview Podcast using the player below or go straight to this episode in Apple Podcasts, Spotify or YouTube.