Furniture components manufacturer and distributor Hill’s Panel Products (HPP) has appointed Gary Kinder as purchasing manager.

He  has extensive fitted furniture industry experience, including roles with Eurospace Furniture, Symphony, Richmond Cabinets and JT Ellis.

Kinder began his career aged 19 with Eurospace Furniture where he gained experience in stock control and supply and was later promoted to a buyer.

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His career took him to Symphony, where he spent over four years, before he joined the caravanning industry, and then returning to the furniture industry working 12 years for Richmond Cabinets.

He joins HPP from JT Ellis, where he worked for nearly four years as buying manager.

In 2003, Kinder attained the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS) qualification.

Speaking about his new role, he said: “I’m delighted to have joined HPP. I’ve known the company for many years through previous roles as a buyer. It has a great reputation and history.

“Since joining HPP, it’s been good to meet everyone, learn more about operations at Oldham, Sheffield and nationally; and work with the managing director, Keith Wardrope, and purchasing director, Alan Bolton.”

“I’m working across the business on a variety of projects. These including stock control and buying, evaluating existing product ranges and potential new ones, and looking at product sales reports and data.

“This includes working closely with the purchasing team, sales representatives and HPP’s IT director, Andy Evans.”

Looking ahead as lockdown restrictions ease, Kinder said: I think this year will be a good one for HPP and the wider KBB sector, as the economy opens-up again.

“Homeowners have made significant investments in property improvements in recent months and that will probably continue.

“Some people will return to their previous routines of commuting and working in traditional workplaces but there may be a greater range of office and home-working in future. Foreign holidays will return but I think this will take longer.

“These types of factors will contribute to ongoing consumer spending on homes and residential developments, which will be positive for the KBB industry.”

Based in Oldham, with a second UK distribution centre in Sheffield, HPP is celebrating its 30^th anniversary this year and serves the national kitchen and bedroom fitting industry.

It has over 2,000 trade customers across the UK and supplies over 6,000 products including its own brands of doors and cabinet components.