Second AGM held at Miele in Oxfordshire

The annual members’ conference for the Kitchen Bathroom Buying Group (KBBG), the UK arm of Der Kreis buying group, was hosted by Miele at its Experience Centre in Abingdon.

The theme for the conference was simplify with a focus on collaboration and sustainability, and was jointly led by Marcel Crezee, CEO of Der Kreis, and Bill Miller, managing director of KBBG. Wayne Hemingway MBE of Hemingway Design gave the keynote speech. 

Attendees included independent kitchen specialists, suppliers from kitchen furniture brands and appliance companies, with all attending retailers provided offered exclusive offers with better margins through improved buying conditions.

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Managing director Bill Miller explained within the last two years UK membership had doubled to 100 and that it had increased its product offer, including Blanco and Sycamore Lighting, which would be joined by Beckermann kitchens towards the end of the year.

Bill Miller commented on the benefits of KBBG membership for retailers: “The excellent relationship we have with our suppliers, and our organisational buying power, benefit all our members and affords the independent kitchen specialist the opportunity to realise the very best buying conditions. The process is simple and easy and opens the field to a large and desirable supply chain that strengthens the UK independents’ advantage and helps them grow their business in the market.”

The Kitchen Bathroom Buying Group UK is part of European kitchen and bathroom buying group Der Kreis, which has over 30 years’ experience and a turnover in excess of 2.2 billion Euros. It currently operates in nine countries and boasts over 2,700 members.

 The Kitchen Bathroom Buying Group UK is part of European kitchen and bathroom buying group Der Kreis, which has over 30 years’ experience and a turnover in excess of 2.2 billion Euros. It currently operates in nine countries and boasts over 2,700 members.