Kohler to Invest $96 Million to Boost Manufacturing and Retail in India India: Kohler, which completed 20 years of operations in India this year, plans to invest Rupees 8 billion (approximately USD 96 million) over the next 3 financial years. The proposed investment is intended to expand manufacturing capacity, strengthen engineering capabilities and increase the company’s retail presence in the country. Chris Ball, President of Kitchen and Bath International at Kohler, discu

Building UK: Grafton Group plc (“Grafton” or “the Group”), the international building materials distributor and DIY retailer, provides this trading update for the period 1 November to 31 December 2025 ahead of its full-year results for 2025, scheduled for 5 March 2026. The Group expects full-year adjusted operating profit¹ to be in line with expectations², reflecting the resilience of its diversified portfolio amid challenging macroeconomic conditions in certain markets. Aver

Sales Growth in FY2025 Germany: The Würth Group reported record sales growth of approximately EUR 20.7 billion (USD 22.4 billion) in FY2025, representing 2.3% year-on-year growth, or 3.2% growth at constant currency, while maintaining a stable operating result of EUR 940 million before tax (USD 1.02 billion). Sales in Germany reached nearly EUR 8.0 billion (USD 8.6 billion), up 0.8%, while international sales rose 3.3% to EUR 12.7 billion (USD 13.7 billion), supported by stro

Strong Sales Growth In 2025 Switzerland: The Geberit Group achieved solid performance in 2025, reporting currency-adjusted net sales growth of 4.8%, significantly strong sales growth above overall market development, despite a challenging environment. In Swiss francs, net sales increased by 2.5% to CHF 3,163 million (USD 3,480 million), with negative currency effects amounting to CHF 72 million (USD 79 million). Growth was driven by strong volumes supported by newly launched

Dunelm Sees Solid H1 UK: Homewares retailer Dunelm reported a “solid first half” performance in a challenging UK retail environment, while signalling that full-year profits are likely to come in at the lower end of expectations following a softer second quarter. For the period ended 27 December 2025, total sales reached GBP 926m (USD 1,176m), up from GBP 894m (USD 1,135m) in the same period last year. Performance was supported by a strong first quarter, but trading weakened i

Kitchen GERMANY: The BLANCO Group is gearing up for the future through key leadership changes. The company’s strategic shift from an accessory supplier to a comprehensive system provider for the kitchen water segment will be further advanced internationally and scaled efficiently. Effective 1 May 2026, CFO Rüdiger Böhle will succeed Frank Gfrörer as CEO of BLANCO. Gfrörer, who assumed leadership of the BLANC & FISCHER family holding last May, will now serve as Chair of the BL

Bathroom USA: Luxury Products Group (LPG), a leading buying group for independent luxury bath, kitchen, lighting, and hardware showrooms, has reported 10% year-over-year growth, outperforming the broader market during a year marked by significant consolidation and disruption within the buying group sector.  While many in the industry faced mergers, shifting alliances, and economic uncertainty, LPG maintained steady performance through strong member engagement, disciplined ven

Bauhaus Partners with Mirakl to Launch Online Marketplace GERMANY: German DIY market leader Bauhaus has formed a strategic partnership with French technology start-up Mirakl to develop its own online marketplace, which went live in August 2025. Using Mirakl’s marketplace technology, Bauhaus aims to significantly expand its online assortment by adding thousands of products from third-party sellers, strengthening its digital offering and customer choice. Founded in 2012, Mirakl

Lecico Bathrooms UK: Lecico Bathrooms has announced the appointment of Dan Banks as Commercial Director, effective from January 2026. In this senior leadership role, Dan will oversee commercial operations, customer management, and sales activities. He brings experience from senior sales and marketing roles at Velux, Adey, and most recently Brand K. Source: Bathroom & Kitchen Update

Klaus Grohe, Former Hansgrohe Head, Dies at 88 Germany: Klaus Grohe, the long-running head of Hansgrohe Group and honorary chairman of its advisory board, passed away on January 3, 2026, at the age of 88. Born in 1937 in Aachen, Germany, the youngest son of founder Hans Grohe joined the company in 1968 after studying business and economics in Bern, Switzerland. Over nearly five decades, he led the company as head of sales, managing partner, chairman of the executive board fro

Saudi Ceramics Expands Retail Footprint with New Riyadh Showroom SAUDI ARABIA: Saudi Ceramics Co. opened a new retail showroom in Al Nuzhah, Riyadh, on Jan 11, expanding its network to 67 showrooms across the Kingdom. The company said in a statement that the financial impact of the opening is expected from Q1 2026. The move aligns with Saudi Ceramics’ retail expansion strategy to strengthen market presence, enhance customer accessibility, and meet evolving market expectations

Bangladesh’s Ceramics Sector Targets Export Expansion Beyond Garments BANGLADESH: Bangladesh’s ceramics industry is emerging as a strong export candidate beyond ready-made garments, supported by rapid growth in capacity and investment. The country has more than 70 ceramic manufacturers producing tableware, tiles, and sanitaryware, with annual domestic sales of roughly USD 730 million. Over the past decade, production and investment have increased by nearly 150%. Exports to ov

OBI GERMANY: OBI is set to open 15 new stores in Germany by mid-2026, marking the fastest retail space expansion in its 55-year history. Partnering with five franchise operators, the DIY retailer is going to add more than 130,000 square meters of selling space in the first half of 2026. The expansion reflects OBI’s dual operating model combining centrally managed outlets with entrepreneur-led franchises and aligns with its long-term strategy to become Europe’s leading destina

Showroom UK: Kitchen and bedroom retailer Wren has maintained its growth momentum, launching seven new showrooms in the final two months of 2025 and taking its total number of openings for the year to ten. New locations were unveiled in Salisbury, Barnstaple and Stafford in November, followed by three additional showrooms in December, including a Yeovil branch that opened on Boxing Day.  The company said the continued showroom rollout underscores its long-term commitment to n

Acquisition FRANCE: In a press release issued on December 19, 2025, Decotec announced the acquisition of Atelier du Bain, a French manufacturer of shower doors and screens that had been placed into receivership earlier in the autumn.  Formerly known as Atmo (Ateliers de la Motte), Atelier du Bain is recognised as the inventor of the swivel and lift-up bath screen, designed to fold against the wall above the taps when installed on the short side of a bathtub. In 2022, the busi

Industrial Park at Morbi, India India: Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) has launched a new Integrated Ceramic Industrial Park at Jambudiya-Paneli in the Morbi-Rajkot region of India, spanning over 1,000 acres. The project is designed to transform the area into a world-class industrial zone for the tile and ceramic sector, enhancing the industry’s presence across the value chain with focus areas including tiles, sanitaryware and advanced ceramics. The park lev

Gravity Bath Acquires Italian Luxury Bathware Brand DILUSSO INDIA: Gravity Bath Pvt Ltd has announced the acquisition of DILUSSO, an Italy-based luxury bathware label recognised for its design-led approach and precision engineering. The acquisition marks a key milestone in Gravity Bath’s strategy to build a globally relevant, design-centric bathware portfolio by combining European aesthetics with Indian manufacturing scale and technology expertise. Founded in Italy, DILUSSO h

Dekiln Secures ~US$3.8 Million to Commercialise Kiln-Free Tile Manufacturing UNITED KINGDOM: Dekiln Limited has secured approximately US$3.8 million in funding from the Royal Academy of Engineering to scale up its low-carbon, kiln-free tile manufacturing technology to industrial production. The funding coincides with Dekiln Chief Executive Dr. Aled Roberts being named among the inaugural Green Future Fellows, a programme designed to support engineers developing solutions that

Kohler Marks Two Decades of Retail Stores with New US Openings USA: Kohler Co. has announced the opening of three new Kohler Stores in Fort Lauderdale, Tampa and Salt Lake City, as it marks the twentieth anniversary of its retail store concept. The stores provide interactive spaces where customers can view and experience products from the company’s portfolio, including bathroom and kitchen fixtures, connected home technologies and curated collections. The openings form part o

Hindware Expands Retail Focus Amid Shifts in India’s Bathroom and Home Solutions Market India: Hindware is adjusting its retail strategy as consumer preferences in India’s bathroom and home décor segment evolve towards design-led choices and integrated technology. The company is placing greater emphasis on experience-driven retail, a broad product portfolio across price points, and an extensive distribution network. Sanitaryware remains central to the business, alongside fauc