Premium kitchen sink, tap, waste disposal and storage manufacturer Blanco has created a Brand Experience Centre, the first of its kind in the world, at its UK headquarters in St Albans.

Speaking at the opening, group CEO of Blanco Frank Gfrörer said: “Blanco has a high reputation in the market. We are an accepted player in the residential kitchen area but we are aiming for more.

“We want to be the leading brand for kitchen waterplaces in residential kitchens. We don’t want to sit on our success from the past, we want to move forward.”

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Stating it is the first Brand Experience Centre of its type, globally, Frank Gfrörer said it was a commitment to the UK market and its “big” sales potential, as well as customers and retailers, and the company had a duty to bring its products to life.

He added: “We want to change from being  a component supplier – a sink or a tap – to a system provider for the waterplace…offering what the consumer needs in terms of drink, prep and clean.”

Following nine months of planning and seven days to build, the 2,900sq ft brand experience centre is a major refurbishment of its HQ kitchen showroom.

It features 150 products, across 28 kitchen displays with three working spaces, showcasing how its taps, stainless steel and Silgranit sinks, waste and storage options work together in 26 Blanco Units.

The centre will also provide a space to support trade customers with training, demonstration facilities and consultative services.

Consumers will also be able to visit, for a free consultative service, with bookings made online.

UK managing director at Blanco Neal Jones commented: “We’re excited to have developed our old showroom into a new brand experience centre which will provide customers with a physical experience to inspire their kitchen designs.

“The opening of the Brand Experience Centre is a shift for the business and marks another step in Blanco becoming more consumer-centric within the UK and increases the opportunities for us to interact with consumers directly.

“As well as benefiting the end consumer, the improved facility in St Albans will allow us to support our partners with a heightened training experience on Blanco and the premium messaging behind the products.

“It will enable them to see first-hand how in-store displays and POS materials should look and how the brand should be discussed, in turn setting them up as experts for selling Blanco within their own showrooms.”

Blanco brand ambassador architect and TV presenter Laura Jane Clark also attended the opening.