Housewares Business-to-business magazine for housewares retailers and their suppliers
Housewares supplier Kitchen Craft has announced that Matthew Canwell, buying director of specialist housewares chain Lakeland, will be joining the business as managing director on October 3.
Kitchen Craft said: ‘A tremendously well-known and respected figure in the housewares industry, Matthew brings a wealth of relevant experience, along with an extremely effective and amiable management style, which fits the Kitchen Craft business culture.
‘Having significant experience in retail previously, in addition to 13 years as buying director at Lakeland, his experience will help Kitchen Craft focus on how to best service our retail customers.’
‘As a successful and growing business and part of the Lifetime Brands Inc. family, Kitchen Craft is a fast-paced environment where third party retail remains its core objective. With Matthew soon at the helm, Kitchen Craft holds the brightest of futures.’
Founded in 1850 by Thomas Plant, Birmingham based Kitchen Craft was originally established as a manufacturer and wholesaler of ironmongery and household products. Today, it is one of the UK’s largest housewares companies, distributing brands such as Kitchen Craft, Master Class, Colourworks, Sweetly Does It, Bar Craft and Fred, exporting to more than 80 countries. Kitchen Craft was acquired by Lifetime Brands Inc. in 2014 and is now part of one of the largest global homewares suppliers, with an annual turnover in excess of US$600m.
Lakeland is a limited company owned by three shareholders: Martin, Sam and Julian Rayner. Established over 50 years ago and based in Cumbria, the company employs 1,800 people with a turnover of £176 million in 2014. It operates 69 stores nationwide in the UK, 16 stores in the Middle East and three in India. Summer 2013 saw the Lakeland brand launch in Germany with dedicated German website lakeland.de.
On the move: Matthew Canwell
