It marks a new chapter in their history and ours

Christoph Fughe, managing director of Störmer, talks to kbbreview about the company’s recent partnership that will see it making kitchen furniture for Villeroy and Boch

German kitchen maker Störmer recently announced a partnership to manufacture the new range of kitchen furniture for Villeroy and Boch under licence.
The new kitchen range from Villeroy and Boch was unveiled by Störmer at the Hausmesse show in Germany on September 14-20 at Forum 26 – Störmer’s exhibition centre in Rödinghausen.
The new kitchens will be produced by Störmer and distributed in the UK and Ireland through Euromobel.

 

 

 

Q: Can you tell us more about Störmer’s partnership with Villeroy and Boch?
A: We were delighted to have been chosen by global brand Villeroy and Boch to exclusively manufacture, market and distribute its new kitchen collection in the UK and internationally. It marks a new chapter in their history and ours, with the launch of a premium kitchen solution, tailored for today’s design and brand-led consumers.

Q: How did the partnership/collaboration come about?
A: The exciting new collaboration has brought together two leading brands with a shared product synergy and ethos. Innovation-focused, Störmer has designed and created high-quality German kitchen furniture for more than 60 years using the latest manufacturing technologies. Störmer prides itself on its sustainability credentials, centred on reducing waste, energy consumption and minimising emissions. Founded in 1748, Villeroy and Boch shares a strong brand heritage too and we’re looking to enhance its range. With Störmer it found a harmonious fit to complement its entire product portfolio.

Q: What are you hoping to achieve with the kitchen designs and this high-profile partnership?
A: We are thrilled to offer retailers and designers in the UK and internationally a new premium design platform, with unique product and marketing benefits. UK retailers and developers have unrivalled access to a premium brand solution, whether as an exclusive retailer, project-based or as a dedicated zone within a showroom.

Created with individuality in mind, the new Villeroy and Boch kitchen collection boasts exceptional quality and design features to personalise the kitchen. An array of classic and contemporary furniture styles are available, combined with versatile storage elements and elegant finishing touches to complement the entire room scheme.

Q: Can you describe any other new products/designs launched by Störmer at Küchenmeile?
A: It has been a momentous Hausmesse for Störmer, with the launch of the Villeroy and Boch kitchen collection and an array of new ranges and style additions. Taking centre-stage was the exclusive Villeroy and Boch signature concept kitchen – a stunning hexagonal embossed design that certainly turned heads. New for 2020, we were also delighted to reveal for the very first time a new waterproof and scratch-resistant concept kitchen. Residur was presented to retailers in a monochrome design of black and white and has been created to meet the demands of busy modern lifestyles.
We also presented a host of new contemporary collections, including Cera in a handleless white marble ceramic finish and the new wall-hung Monza in an on-trend Verde Commodore. Both featured standout metal gold-coloured edging and the options to create truly bespoke unit configurations.
All Villeroy and Boch kitchens offer a striking palette of colours, finishes and design features ‘as standard’, such as premium 8mm glass shelves with reinforced profiles and state-of-the-art luxury interior storage.

“It has been a momentous Hausmesse for Störmer, with the launch of the Villeroy and Boch kitchen collection and an array of new ranges and style additions”

Christoph Fughe, managing director, Störmer

Q: What are you hoping to achieve with the new range and why would UK retailers want to stock these products when they are available?
A: The premium Villeroy and Boch kitchen brand will elevate a showroom presentation and provide retailers with a new design platform. Störmer has enhanced its kitchen collection with more than 60 new kitchen additions, taking the number of individual door styles to over 400, as well as over 22,000 special RAL, Sikkens or NCS colours to create a bespoke kitchen creation. We feel retailers have a truly versatile choice of high-quality contemporary and classic options to tailor to customers individual needs and aspirations.

Q: How has the Küchenmeile show been for Störmer? What are you hearing from your dealers about the new products and how business is in general?
A: We have had a very good Home Show with an excellent reaction from our global visitors about the direction we are working in. Many studios are unsure how to move forward, sometimes working with several similar products, which confuses their customers. It can be lonely trying to make the right decisions. We have helped them to see a way to stand out from the crowd and maintain a truly professional presentation that end consumers will buy into.

Q: How much impact is Brexit having on the kitchen market in the UK? In what ways have you planned around the Brexit possibilities and what’s your message to your UK dealer network amid the uncertainty?
A: My mantra has always been ‘business as usual’ and speaking with many of our UK dealers, the same applies. We admire the great British spirit – onwards and upwards. As a business with over 60 years of history, we have always focused on quality and innovation to deliver the very best product offering. Our new collaboration with Villeroy and Boch demonstrates our industry position and confidence in all markets. Positivity is the only way to move forward.