Retail store Wickes reported a 2.1% increase in revenue to £865.3 million (US$1.16 billion) for the first half of its 2026 financial year, supported by growth in its TradePro and Design & Installation businesses, which offset a slight decline in like-for-like Retail sales. For the 26 weeks ended 27 June 2026, group revenue increased from £847.9 million (US$1.14 billion) in H1 2025. Adjusted profit before tax rose 1.1% to £27.6 million (US$37.0 million), while statutory profit

production unit POLAND: Cersanit S.A., a manufacturer of ceramic and porcelain tiles and bathroom equipment, plans to implement collective redundancies affecting 487 employees across five production facilities in Poland, according to information provided by the District Labour Office in Krasnystaw. The planned reductions will affect plants in Krasnystaw, Starachowice, Opoczno, Radom and Wałbrzych, with employee notices expected to be issued in stages between August and Novemb

Price Increase UK: Fireclay sink brand Shaws of Darwen has announced a significant price increase across its product portfolio, with one distributor warning that some prices could rise by as much as 300%. Jonathan White, Sales Director EMEAA at parent company Fortune Brands Innovations, confirmed that the increase will take effect from 1 November. He said current prices no longer adequately reflect the cost of manufacturing and supplying Shaws products. According to White, Fo

appointment Dornbracht has appointed Olaf Hoppe as managing director, effective 14 September 2026. The 59-year-old executive joins the Iserlohn-based fittings manufacturer after serving as CEO of SieMatic, where he oversaw the company’s transformation. Hoppe will assume overall management responsibilities following the departure of CSMO Caroline Schmitt and CFO Natalia Castellucci de Kolb. His appointment comes as Dornbracht continues to implement a strategy aimed at strength

Boiling taps Quooker UK, a manufacturer of boiling water taps, has officially entered the commercial market as part of a strategy to expand its presence in the UK office sector. The company previously supplied products to a limited number of offices but is now targeting the commercial channel as a dedicated growth area. According to Managing Director Stephen Johnson, Quooker has established a separate team of commercial specialists to develop the new channel independently fro

bathroom store India’s luxury bathroom market is increasingly shifting towards products that combine functionality with design, aesthetics, technology and personalization. GADOTT, the luxury bathware brand of VMS Bathware, is seeking to capitalize on this trend through design-focused products tailored to the requirements of Indian consumers. The brand currently operates through around 10 dealers, primarily in North India, along with an experience centre in New Delhi. It plans

ceramics Jaipur Capital, a strategic investment and holding platform, has acquired the manufacturing business and selected assets of Global Ceramics Private Limited through an asset transfer transaction. Manufacturing operations will be carried out through Melozzo Living Limited, a bathroom and home solutions company. As part of the transaction, Global Ceramics has transferred its industrial land, manufacturing facility, plant and machinery and other agreed business assets to

Public Handwashing Study Highlights Gaps in Plumbing Performance USA: The 2026 Clean Hands Index, based on more than 350 handwashing experiences across 240 public facilities and feedback from over 2,800 respondents, found that only 7.1% met all five criteria for an effective handwashing experience. The research assessed touch free soap dispensing, touch free faucets, warm water, hygienic hand drying and hands free exits. The findings highlight the gap between individual plumb

Kyrgyzstan Introduces Six Month Restrictions on Selected Chinese Building Material Imports KYRGYZSTAN: Kyrgyzstan has imposed a temporary six month restriction on imports of selected building materials from third countries, with the exact product list yet to be published. The measure could affect Chinese suppliers, which are major sources of prefabricated structures, processed stone, refractory materials, ceramic tiles and sanitaryware. China accounted for around 91% of Kyrgy

Veto Group Acquires Termotehnika in Slovenia Slovenia: Slovenian heating and plumbing equipment wholesaler Veto Group has acquired local peer Termotehnika, according to Cerha Hempel Slovenia, which advised Veto Group on the transaction. The deal brings together two Slovenian businesses involved in the distribution of heating, cooling, ventilation, plumbing and bathroom solutions. No financial details of the transaction were disclosed. Termotehnika, based in Novo Mesto, was pr

TECE Appoints Ashley Shires as UK Managing Director UK: German sanitary solutions manufacturer TECE has announced the appointment of Ashley Shires as its new UK managing director, effective 21 September 2026. Shires has more than 40 years of experience in the bathroom industry, including 14 years as managing director of SIAMP. His career has included work with UK and international bathroom manufacturers, with experience in commercial strategy and business development. Comment

Hib Joins Commercial Interiors UK UK: Bathroom specialist hib has joined Commercial Interiors UK, the UK trade association for the commercial interiors sector, to develop industry partnerships and expand its presence in commercial markets. Commercial Interiors UK represents more than 200 accredited manufacturers and suppliers across areas including furniture, lighting, fabrics, flooring, bathroom fittings and other interior products, serving sectors such as hospitality, workp

Siamp UK Appoints Alex Holcroft as Managing Director UK: Siamp UK has appointed Alex Holcroft as managing director, effective 1 September 2026. Holcroft has experience across sales, commercial management, product development and go-to-market strategy within the UK kitchen and bathroom industry. He previously worked at Siamp UK as product manager from 2017 to 2019 and later served as sales director at Woodland Furniture Group, where he was involved in customer acquisition, pro

Neptune to Open Showroom at Fenwick Newcastle UK: British home and lifestyle brand Neptune will open a 4,000 sq ft showroom at Fenwick Newcastle in October 2026. The opening will mark Neptune’s first store within a department store and Fenwick Newcastle’s largest concession to date. The showroom will feature room sets covering living, dining, kitchen and bedroom spaces, along with a Design Library offering materials, colours, fabrics and finishes. An in-house design service w

Ideal Bathrooms Joins Bathroom Association UK: Ideal Bathrooms has joined the Bathroom Association as a new member, adding a distributor perspective to the trade association’s membership. The company has supported the UK bathroom market for more than 40 years and supplies more than 20,000-bathroom products across categories including showering, brassware, furniture, ceramics, heating and accessories. The association said the membership will bring insight into product demand,

SCGD Unveils Five-Year Growth Plan, Targets US$136 Million EBITDA by 2031 THAILAND: SCG Decor Public Company Limited has unveiled a five-year growth strategy targeting Baht 4.5 billion (~US$136.1 million) in EBITDA and a twofold increase in EPS by 2031. The company plans to expand beyond tiles and sanitaryware into products such as SPC flooring, smart toilets, doors and windows, and kitchen and bathroom furniture, with sales from new product categories growing more than 90% o

Koçtaş Joins International DIY Association Edra/Ghin TURKEY: Turkish home improvement retailer Koçtaş has joined the international DIY association Edra/Ghin, strengthening its presence within the global home improvement network. Founded in 1955 as a wholesale business, Koçtaş opened its first retail store in İzmir in 1996 and began expanding nationwide in 1998. The company has operated as a joint venture between Turkish conglomerate Koç Holding and UK-based Kingfisher since 2

BMS Holdings Expands Northern Malaysia Reach Through Penang Joint Venture MALAYSIA: Malaysia’s BMS Holdings Bhd plans to establish a 60:40 joint venture with the shareholders of Penang-based Wee Tatt Traders Sdn Bhd to expand its tile and building materials distribution network across the northern states. The proposed JV, Jubin BMS (Wee Tatt) Sdn Bhd, will distribute tiles, ceramic and porcelain products, sanitary ware and other building materials. BMS will contribute RM3 mil

European SHK Market Shows Stable Business Climate in Q2 2026 Europe: The European sanitary, heating and air conditioning (SHK) market recorded a stable business climate in the second quarter of 2026, although performance varied across sectors and distribution channels. The SHK business climate barometer remained at +3 points, unchanged from the previous quarter. Installation companies recorded +17 points and manufacturers +6 points, while wholesalers stood at -13 points. By p

Shift To Lead-Free Materials Reshapes Plumbing Component Design Global: The transition to lead-free materials in plumbing components is progressing across the industry, supported by regulatory changes and increased focus on water quality. Manufacturers are adopting engineered polymers in applications such as faucet mixing valves, where components are required to operate under conditions including high temperatures, pressure variation and continuous exposure to water. These ma