Kartell acquires Summerbridge

Heating and bathroom products supplier to showrooms and merchants, Kartell UK has acquired Summerbridge Holdings and subsidiary Humber Doors.

07 Jan, 22

Supplier of heating and bathroom products to the independent showroom and merchant sector Kartell UK has acquired Summerbridge Holdings and its subsidiary Humber Doors for an undisclosed sum.

Summerbridge joins Made in Britain campaign

Headquartered in East Yorkshire, Summerbridge is a UK manufacturer of kitchen and bathroom cabinets and doors for manufacturers, contractors, developers and distributors across the residential, commercial and leisure sectors.

With predecessor businesses’ history dating back 30 years’ Summerbridge employs more than 120 people and delivers over £7milllion in annual sales.

Sponsored Video

The acquisition sees the Kartell group securing a supply of British-made kitchen and bathroom cabinets for its customers and Summerbridge set to benefit from investment by the group.

Summerbridge wil continue to operate as a standalone business with the Kartell group, under the guidance of the existing management team.

But the cabinet manufacturer will benefit from the opportunity to work alongside sister businesses including Just Trays and Vogue, which it acquired in 2021.

Founded in 2009, Kartell employs more than 430 people across sites in Bedford, Wigan, Willenhall and Leeds and has a turnover in excess of £125million.

CEO of Kartell Alex Norford  said: “In common with many in our industry, over the last 18 months we have experienced record levels of demand.

“We always strive to deliver exactly what our customers requires and recognised earlier this year we needed to secure additional bathroom furniture supply to provide the consistent, high quality products our customers expect from us.

“It is with great pleasure we are supporting the future of another fantastic British manufacturer and having identified the benefits that Hull’s status as a Freeport can bring to the group, we were keen to be invested in a city which is clearly making great strides in the UK economy.

“I am really excited to have the opportunity to welcome everyone at Summerbridge into our group and offer our customers their top quality, British-made cabinetry moving forward.”

Director of Summerbridge Holdings Simon Lunt said: “When we received the approach from Kartell’s advisors we immediately saw the potential for the two businesses to join forces.

“We acquired Summerbridge in 2018 and have worked alongside the wonderful team at the business to put it back on the path to growth and to realise the undoubted potential.

“It is with great pleasure that I and my fellow directors hand over the reins to Alex and the team at Kartell to take Summerbridge forwards.”

Kartell was advised by FRP Corporate Finance’s East Midlands team, led by Harry Walker, with legal advice from a team led by Sophie Blake of Fladgate LLP and financial diligence provided by Price Bailey LLP.

Shawbrook Bank provided Kartell with increased facilities to finance the acquisition of Summerbridge and were advised by a team from Shoosmiths LLP, led by John Bew.