Kartell UK acquires Summerbridge and Humber Doors

Kartell UK, which supplies heating and bathroom products to independent merchants and showrooms, has acquired Summerbridge Holdings and its subsidiary Humber Doors.

Yorkshire-based Summerbridge is a major supplier of kitchen and bathroom cabinets and doors to manufacturers, contractors, developers and distributors in the leisure, KBB and commercial and residential development sector. With a history dating back 30 years, Summerbridge employs more than 120 people and has annual sales in excess of £7 million.

Bedford-based Kartell said that the acquisition will secure a supply of high-quality, British-made bathroom cabinets for its customers and marks the next chapter in the company’s development.

Summerbridge will continue to operate as a standalone company within the Kartell group with the existing management team. Kartell said the move will also allow Summerbridge to benefit from working closely with Kartell’s other businesses, which include shower tray manufacturer Just Trays and designer towel warmer specialist Vogue.

Commenting on the deal, Kartell chief executive Alex Norford said: “In common with many in our industry over the past 18 months, we have experienced record levels of demand. We always strive to deliver exactly what our customers require and recognised earlier this year we needed to secure additional bathroom furniture supply to provide the consistent, high-quality products our customers expect from us.”

He continued: “It is with great pleasure we are supporting the future of another fantastic British manufacturer and having identified the benefits Hull’s status as a Freeport can bring to the group, we were keen to be invested in a city which is clearly making giant strides in the UK economy. I am really excited to have the opportunity to welcome everyone at Summerbridge into our group and offer our customers their top quality, British-made cabinetry moving forward.”

At Summerbridge Holdings, director Simon Lunt added: “When we received the approach from Kartell’s advisors, we immediately saw the potential for the two businesses to join forces. We acquired Summerbridge in 2018 and have worked alongside the wonderful team at the business to put it back on the path to growth and to realise its undoubted potential. It is with great pleasure that I and my fellow directors hand over the reins to Alex and the team at Kartell to take Summerbridge forwards.”

Kartell acquired shower tray manufacturer JT in June 2019, when then operations director John Schofield took over as MD from Paul Crossley, who moved into an advisory role. As one of the largest shower tray manufacturers in the UK, JT employs more than 125 people and turns over around £14m.

Kartell took over Vogue UK at the end of last year in a multmillion-pound deal. Vogue employs more than 80 people, delivering more than £14 million in annual sales and Kartell plans to support further growth both the UK and internationally, where Vogue has an existing presence in the US market.

Kartell was founded in 2008 and has a group turnover of more than £125m through its brands K-RAD, K-VIT, JT and Vogue. It employs more than 430 people across its main sites in Bradford, Wigan, Willenhall and Leeds.

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