Strengthen Domestic Retail Focus Vietnam: Hoa Sen Group, one of Vietnam’s largest steel producers, has carved out its building materials and home furnishings retail business into a new subsidiary, Hoa Sen Home, as it shifts focus toward the domestic market amid continued export volatility. Hoa Sen Group owns 99% of Hoa Sen Home JSC, which was incorporated on January 5 with a charter capital of USD 38 million. Headquartered in Thu Duc ward, Ho Chi Minh City, the subsidiary man

Sanitary Ware Powerhouse three quarters of 2025, with key indicators, including fixed-asset investment, infrastructure investment, real estate development investment, and total agricultural output value, all ranking first in the province in growth speed. The data was released on January 19 in Guangzhou at a press conference reviewing Guangdong’s development under the 14th Five-Year Plan, 2021 to 2025. Located in eastern Guangdong, Chaozhou is widely known as China’s “Ceramic

Furniture Manufacturer Enters Administration UK: Moores Furniture Group, a furniture manufacturer based in Wetherby, West Yorkshire, has entered administration, citing difficult trading conditions. The company, founded in 1947, supplied kitchens to housebuilders, public sector clients and affordable housing developers, and employed more than 450 people. Joint administrators from Interpath have confirmed the sale of the company’s customer list and certain intellectual property

Ceramic Industry Faces Deepening Crisis India: Once globally recognised for tiles and clocks, Morbi, the city that put India’s ceramic industry on the world map is now facing one of its worst crises in decades due to intense international competition, overproduction, and what industry leaders describe as deeply flawed government regulations. More than 200 ceramic factories in Morbi are currently shut, with machinery lying idle, sheds deteriorating, and revival prospects dimmi

New Concept Centre in Kandy Sri Lanka: Rocell has opened a new Concept Centre in Kandy, expanding its retail presence in Sri Lanka. Located on William Gopallawa Mawatha, the showroom covers 4,730 square feet and is designed to present integrated living space solutions for homeowners, architects and designers in the Central Province. The centre displays a range of surface coverings and sanitaryware, allowing visitors to view coordinated applications across residential spaces.

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