Following the total destruction of Horizon Kitchens’ showroom and workshop in a massive explosion, the company has confirmed it still remains open for business and is already looking for a new premises.
The tragedy was triggered by a fire which erupted at an industrial complex in Rettendon, Essex, on July 24, which then spread to a fertiliser store and ignited a huge explosion. More than 100 firefighters worked to tackle the blaze through the night, which completely destroyed all of the business units on the site, including the showroom and production facility owned by Horizon Kitchens.
The company manufactures, retails and installs bespoke kitchen and bedroom projects to clients, and has been trading for almost 40 years.
Addressing the news in a statement online, Horizon Kitchens said it was “saddened to confirm” the loss of its factory at Highlands Farm.
Although acknowledging the business would face “significant challenges ahead” the company also confirmed it is able to continue trading despite the loss of the factory. Horizon Kitchens also thanked thank Essex County Fire and Rescue Service, as well as the business’ customers, suppliers and supporters, saying their support “means more to us than words can say”.
At the time of the blast, only one member of Horizon’s workshop staff, Martin, was on site, and he was fortunately uninjured by the explosion.
“I had just finished up work for the weekend and was leaving when I noticed the fire a little way away, but because the fire service were there I thought it was all under control,” he recalled to kbbreview.
“I didn’t want anyone breathing in smoke, so I was telling everyone outside not to come back because it wasn’t safe, and just as I was about to drive off in my van, I heard a massive bang. I had the windows down because it was hot, and I felt a massive rush of air pass through, and the force has completely distorted the panels on the roof and side of the van.”
Speaking to kbbreview, Horizon Kitchens director Robert Loom explained: “Fortunately, our two fitters were out on a job in Chelmsford so they were late back that evening when it happened, and that was an absolute lifesaver. If they’d have got back there, they’d have been standing there when it went off, which doesn’t even bear thinking about.
He continued: “Martin had seen the fire and filmed it for me, and I could see that the flames were far enough away from our unit for me to not be concerned because the fire brigade were already aware. What I wasn’t expecting was when my wife phoned me to give me the bad news that everything had just gone completely because of the explosion.”
Despite the total loss of the site, Loom says that the business has still been able to continue trading, explaining: “Thankfully, because the fitters were late back in our largest van, they had all the tools inside that we needed to fit with, so we were able to keep going with our work.
“We’ve had to use a firm to handle manufacturing for me in the interim, and they really pulled out all the stops to help me. It’s meant we’ve pulled a few jobs forward that were scheduled for later in the year, but we’ve been able to keep going and keep our cash flow coming in, which is obviously key.”
Horizon Kitchens currently expects to have a new site secured at some point over the next few months, after which time work will begin on opening a new showroom for clients to visit.
“The saving grace was that nobody was hurt from our crew,” Loom adds, “but also the people in the other businesses around us as well. Because we’re all going through the same thing, we’ve all been helping each other out however we can – the companionship we had there at our old site is something that we really won’t be able to replace.”