We are live at kbb Birmingham 2026!

And this is the perfect environment to talk about…. suppliers. In particular, what retailers look for in new suppliers, what questions are they asking, what are the deal breakers, is it all about product or all about terms?

Also when you see existing suppliers in environments like this, how important is that face-to-face and is it a chance to renegotiate or simply complain?

Live and in person, we have regulars Liz Pantling Jones from Lima Kitchen in Milton Keynes and Nick Warrington from Stuart J Warrington in Macclesfield. We're also joined by Darren Taylor from Searle & Taylor in Winchester....

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In this special episode of The kbbreview Podcast, host Matt Baker is joined by Managing Editor Andy Davies as they celebrate a huge milestone – Andy’s 20th kbbreview Retail & Design Awards ceremony...

From the early days to the present, Andy shares insights into how the awards have evolved, the philosophy behind them, the challenges and frustrations along the way, and the lessons learned from two decades of recognising excellence in the UK kitchen and bathroom industry. He also reflects on his favourite venues, the biggest changes he’s witnessed in the sector, and what he’s looking forward to at this year’s awards.

A big thank you to Sonas Bathrooms, our 2026 Awards Podcast Partner, for supporting this special episode and helping us champion the very best in KBB.

If you’re heading to kbb Birmingham, don’t forget to pick up our special show issue of kbbreview, packed with floorplans and essential show content. And for awards attendees, the Welcome Reception kicks off at 6:30pm with a complimentary drink!

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As Kutchenhaus hits the 100-showroom milestone, we sit down with UK general manager Jim Barnard to unpack one of the most remarkable growth stories in mid-market kitchen retail.

From just 10 showrooms in 2015 to a 100 High Street locations a decade later, Kutchenhaus has become a dominant force in UK kitchen retail backed by German manufacturing giant Nobilia and powered by a loyal network of owner-operators - nearly 40% now run more than one showroom.

Recorded at the opening of the brand’s 100th showroom in Beckenham, Barnard reflects on growth, culture and the realities of scaling a franchise business in a tough market.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why reaching 100 showrooms is “huge” for a business that only began franchising in 2015
• How Kutchenhaus balances freedom and framework to maintain brand consistency
• The secret behind multi-site franchise success
• Why Barnard believes “we’re not right for everyone – and not everyone is right for us”
• The resurgence of franchising across kitchens – and what it means competitively
• Installation, market headwinds and why the final two weeks of a project define everything
• What’s next, including expansion into untapped UK territories

“Our playbooks aren’t theoretical,” says Barnard. “They’re based on what we know works in the real world.”

If you want to understand why franchising is back in fashion – and how one brand has made it work at scale – this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

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