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After the poor performance of the domestic furniture industry in 1999, results in the following years up to 2004 showed healthy improvements. Total sales increased by almost 5% (or £210m) in 2002, with producer prices being fairly static or even declining within certain sectors. Sales in 2003 have grown by 4.1% (or £190m) and by about 3.0% in 2004, before declining by 2.6% in 2005, the first fall in the market for many years. Estimates show that sales reached £4990m in 2006, an increase of £120m or 2.5%.

As far as kitchen furniture is concerned there have been modest increases in both volume and value terms in the period since 1999, even increasing sales in 2005 against the trend for domestic furniture generally. Nevertheless, competition has remained fierce throughout the industry, and several companies have gone into receivership.

Total sales of kitchen furniture reached £1155m in 2006, compared to £1100m in 2005 and £1070m in 2004; this product group currently accounts for 23% of the total domestic furniture market.

In volume terms the total number of fitted kitchen furniture installations has increased slowly in recent years, reaching 1,050,000 units in 2006, compared to 1,023,000 units in 2005 and 974,000 units in 2004. Sales of built-in units, mainly base and sink units, moved from £520m in 2004 to £560m in 2006, whilst sales of storage furniture, mainly wall units increased from £465m to £505m in the same period.

The emphasis within the furniture industry has moved consistently from manufacturing to retailing over the last decade, although within the kitchen furniture sector, companies such as MFI (Hygena and Schreiber), Magnet, Moben, Smallbone and so on have combined both functions.

The established major kitchen furniture manufacturers are accounting for a growing share of the market. Despite this there have been new manufacturers and retail groups keen to enter the market, a fact which only serves to fuel the competitive nature of the market.

Kitchen specialist stores account for 19% of the total market in volume terms, but 42% of the market in value terms, with independent specialists claiming 14% in volume terms and 35% in value terms. Builders’ and plumbers’ merchants have a 23% share in volume terms, but a reduced 16% in value terms. DIY outlets account for 22% of sales volume, but 13% of sales value, whilst the direct contract sector accounts for 17% of volume sales and 13% of sales value.

The private sector of the market accounts for the majority of sales of kitchen furniture with 92% of the total market in value terms. Existing dwellings in the private sector continue to provide the main source of demand with 73% of the total market, with the new build sector accounting for 19% of the total.

Imports of kitchen furniture totalled £115.1m in 2006, compared to £106.3m in 2005 and £92.8m in 2004. The penetration rate for such products within the UK market is currently 10.0% in value terms. Alno (UK) Ltd dominates this sector of the market.

Total sales of kitchen furniture are expected to reach £1175m in 2007 and £1215m in 2008, compared to the level of £1155m achieved in 2006. This product group will account for around 23% of the total domestic furniture market in value terms during the period under review. Total kitchen furniture installations are expected to reach 1,055,000 units in 2007 and 1,075,000 units in 2008; this compares with the level of 1,050,000 units achieved in 2006.

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