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Listen to the full interview with Neal Jones on a special episode of The kbbreview Podcast. Use the player above or go straight to it in Apple Podcasts, Spotify or YouTube.

I don’t think you’d find many in the UK kitchen industry who would argue that 2024 has been anything other than a very mixed bag. 

At Blanco, despite these pressures, we’ve been able to stay true to our strategy and focus on delivering value through innovations in what we call the ‘kitchen water place’.

This year we’ve rolled out more new products than ever as, in a challenging market, we believe that pushing forward sends a strong message of confidence to our customers and partners.

In 2025, we’re hopeful we’ll all see more economic stability and it leads to renewed consumer confidence in the kitchen market. Stability empowers consumers to make significant investments while uncertainty makes it tough to feel secure about spending their money on big projects. At Blanco, we want to make sure we play our part in that stability and position ourselves as a reliable partner; a brand that retailers and consumers can trust to deliver top-notch products, excellent service, and timely deliveries.

Looking ahead to the macro-economic factors impacting 2025, there are some key areas we’ll be watching. The November Budget  introduced higher costs for employers and cutbacks in business rate rebates. These changes will certainly affect businesses in our sector. 

We were expecting more stimulus for the housing market, particularly around housebuilding pledges, and that didn’t fully materialise. While consumers always aspire to a beautiful new kitchen, without broader economic support for housing and consumer confidence, the sector will continue to face challenges.

Innovation

For Blanco, 2025 marks our 100th anniversary and alongside celebrating this legacy we’re staying laser-focused on innovation. We’re planning some significant product launches that we believe will elevate the kitchen water place to new heights. 

For example, we are looking at personalisation. Customers want kitchens that reflect their unique tastes so we’re working on new ways to showcase our product combinations, guiding consumers and retailers to find their ideal setups without feeling overwhelmed by options.

From a practical perspective, we’re also investing in making our products as easy as possible to install and integrate – not just for consumers, but for our retailers too.

People don’t just want beautiful kitchens; they want functional spaces that reflect their lifestyles, but it’s the little details that make a lasting impact. While our product range has expanded, we’re curating it to ensure every item adds real value, both in functionality and design. We’re offering a service that’s almost like a ‘design partner’, where retailers can consult with us directly, and we can suggest product combinations that align with their clients’ unique needs. This not only helps our customers but strengthens our relationship with them as a brand that supports and elevates their offerings.

So, my New Year’s resolution for Blanco in 2025? It’s simple – keep raising the profile of the kitchen water place, continue to innovate, and ensure that every part of our offering, from our products to our service, is as personalised and accessible as possible. With our 100th year on the horizon, it’s a perfect time to reflect on our legacy and to keep pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in kitchen design. Here’s to a year of stability, innovation, and meaningful growth in the kitchen sector.

To find out more, visit blanco.co.uk