The USA is the largest importer of kitchen furniture in the world with a relevant amount of USD 1,600 million import in 2016 (preliminary figures), which almost tripled over the last years. European products appear to be more and more appreciated and also local manufacturing seems to be permeated by international styles. Among successful foreign brands, it is worth to mention the Italian Scavolini and Snaidero. Other article by CSIL are available at https://www.worldfurnitureonline.com/showPage.php?template=reports&masterPage=Magazine/World-Furniture.html&id=5747

1. www.worldfurnitureonline.com
bby Mauro Spinelli
CSIL International Market Research
KITCHENS IN THE US:
IMPORTS TO EXPAND
he US kitchen furniture market
is the largest in the world and
since 2012 it showed an unin-
terrupted positive perform-
ance. According to the last
available figures from the US
Bureau of Census around 7,000
establishments are operating in
kitchen cabinetry for a total work-
force of over 77,000. The leading
groups Masterbrand Cabinets,
Masco, American Woodmark devel-
op over USD 1 billion each in sales
and they drive around 25% of the
market.
WORLD’S LARGEST IMPORTER
OF KITCHENS
The latest product trends confirm a
move towards contemporary mod-
ern styled cabinets, with combina-
tion of different colours and clean
lines. European products appear to
be more and more appreciated and
also local manufacturing seems to
be permeated by international
styles. The US is the largest
importer of kitchen furniture in the
world with a relevant amount of
USD 1,600 million import in 2016
(preliminary figures), which almost
tripled over the last years. Over 60%
of this value originates in China and
it is followed by Canada, Italy,
Vietnam and Germany.The US
kitchen distribution is controlled by
three main actors, home improve-
ment chains (ex. Home Depot,
Lowe’s), specialist distributors/deal-
ers and builders. International
brands mainly rely on local partners
setting up mono-brand showrooms
T
HIGHLIGHTSCSIL MARKET RESEARCH
STUDIES
with the aim to target the architects
and the building sector. Builders
cover a predominant role in the
kitchen distribution in the US driving
around 30% of sales as kitchens in
the US are generally sold together
with the apartment.
INTERNATIONAL BRANDS
PUSHED BY A HEALTHY
CONTRACT SEGMENT
Among successful foreign brands,
the Italian Scavolini boasts over 20
years of presence in the US market
and 20 stores in the major cities,
including New York, Miami, Chicago,
Houston and Boston. The company
announced a double-digit growth for
the US sales in the first six months of
2016, especially thanks to the devel-
opment of the contract channel. We
mention the residential tower One
West End in Manhattan, where the
company supplied 250 kitchens cus-
tomized by the Architect Jeffrey
Beers, and 750 apartments at The
Grand Luxury Towers furnished with
Scavolini kitchens and bathrooms.
The German kitchen brand Alno has
a long-standing presence in the US
and recently the company secured a
multi-million dollar contract to pro-
vide kitchens and bathroom furniture
for a project in Sunny Isles, Florida.
The 400 Sunny Isles project,
designed by Architect Chad
Oppenheim and Architect Kobi Karp
consists of two 20-story glass tow-
ers, with a total of 230 units.
In May 2016 Snaidero USA has been
indicated as kitchen and bath cabi-
netry provider for Chicago's Wanda
Vista building, a luxury building
housing 406 units. The expert teams
from Studio Gang, bKL Architecture,
and Hirsch Bedner Associates (HBA)
designers selected Snaidero's WAY,
a GOOD DESIGN™ Award-winning
cabinetry line to complement the
posh interiors of the Vista
Residences.
According to recent official figures,
the performance of the construction
sector is expected to be positive in
the next four years with a +3%/+4%
yearly growth on average for the new
residential construction put in place.
This will continue to sustain the
kitchen furniture import activity, thus
expanding the market potential for
foreign players.
-
200
400
600
800
1,000
1,200
1,400
1,600
1,800
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016*
UNITED STATES. IMPORTS OF KITCHEN FURNITURE, 2010-2016. MILLION USD
Source: CSIL (*) 2016 preliminary figures
Scavolini Store in Las Vegas
Norcraft Cabinetry. Terrence
27WF • March 2017