Howdens Joinery
{{Short description|Kitchen retailer within the United Kingdom}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Howden Joinery Group Plc
| logo = Howdens_logo.svg
| logo_caption =
| logo_size = 175px
| former_name = {{Ubl
| Maxirace Limited (May{{endash}}December 1987)
| MFI Furniture Group Plc (1987{{endash}}2006)
| Galiform Plc (2006{{endash}}2010){{Cite web |date=1987-05-07 |title=Howden Joinery Group PLC overview - Find and update company information - GOV.UK |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/02128710 |access-date=2024-01-27 |website=Companies House |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Legal information |url=https://www.howdenjoinerygroupplc.com/legal |access-date=2024-01-27 |website=Howden Joinery Group Plc |language=en}}
}}
| type = Public
| traded_as = {{ubl|{{lse|HWDN}}|FTSE 100 component}}
| foundation = 1995
| founder = Matthew Ingle
| location = London, England, UK
| key_people = {{Ubl
| Peter Ventress, (Chairman)
| Andrew Livingston, (CEO)
}}
| industry = Furniture
| products = {{Ubl
| Kitchens
| Joinery
| Hardware
| Flooring
| Appliances
| Bathroom furniture
}}
| revenue = {{increase}} £2,322.1 million (2024){{cite web|url=https://www.howdenjoinerygroupplc.com/docs/librariesprovider25/archives/prelims/preliminary_results_2024.pdf|title=Preliminary Results 2024|publisher=Howdens Joinery|access-date=27 February 2025}}
| operating_income = {{decrease}} £339.2 million (2024)
| net_income = {{decrease}} £249.3 million (2024)
| num_employees =
| homepage = {{URL|https://howdenjoinerygroupplc.com}}
}}
Howden Joinery Group Plc is the multinational parent company for the Howdens Joinery business (Howdens) based in London, England. It is a supplier of kitchens and joinery products to the building trade. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange, and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index.
History
The brand was adopted and developed by Matthew Ingle{{cite web|url=https://www.kbbreview.com/10222/news/howdens-founder-ceo-matthew-ingle-retire/|title=Howdens founder and CEO Matthew Ingle to retire|date=7 July 2017|access-date=19 September 2019}} as a business unit within MFI Furniture Group plc (MFI) in 1995.{{Cite web|url=http://www.ttjonline.com/features/onwards-and-upwards-/|title=Onwards and upwards - Timber Trades Journal Online|website=www.ttjonline.com|date=10 December 2012 |access-date=2019-09-24}} It started trading with 14 depots. In October 2006, MFI sold its loss-making MFI retail business to Merchant Equity Partners for £1, whilst retaining Howdens.{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/5369662.stm|title=MFI sells store chain in £1 deal|date=2006-09-22|access-date=2019-09-24|language=en-GB}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2006/sep/23/privateequity|title=MFI sold for £1 and repackaged as Galiform|last=Treanor|first=Jill|date=2006-09-23|work=The Guardian|access-date=2019-09-24|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}} At the same time, the name of MFI was changed to Galiform plc.
In 2007, Howdens' own appliance brand, Lamona, was launched.
In November 2008, the MFI retail business entered administration, and Galiform became liable for the costs associated with 46 MFI stores (the legacy properties), incurring an exceptional charge of £99.7m.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2009/mar/06/buiilding-sector|title=Joinery group Galiform and plumbing supplier Wolseley hit by fallout from building sector|last=Finch|first=Julia|date=2009-03-06|work=The Guardian|access-date=2019-09-24|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}} However, by December 2012 the legacy properties had been reduced by over 80%.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dividendmax.com/dividend-investor-news/1149/massive-dividend-increase-from-howden-joinery|title=Massive Dividend Increase from Howden Joinery|website=www.dividendmax.com}}
In September 2010, Galiform changed its name to Howden Joinery Group plc.{{Cite web|url=https://www.investorschronicle.co.uk/2011/09/08/shares/news-and-analysis/sturdy-trading-at-howden-K5w0jmQr65J3zslHTdAnzN/article.html|title=Sturdy trading at Howden|publisher=Investors Chronicle|date=4 March 2011|access-date=24 September 2019}} Howdens was granted a Royal Warrant as a Supplier of Fitted Kitchens by Appointment to Queen Elizabeth II in January 2015,{{Cite web|url=https://www.royalwarrant.org/company/howden-joinery-ltd|title=Howden Joinery Ltd {{!}} Royal Warrant Holders Association|website=www.royalwarrant.org|access-date=2019-09-24}} and was chosen as one of The Sunday Times 25 Best Big Companies to Work For in 2020.{{Cite web|url=https://www.b.co.uk//companies/howdens|title=Best Companies | Howdens|website=www.b.co.uk}}
In July 2017, the company announced the retirement of Matthew Ingle, after twenty two years at the company,{{cite news |url=https://www.ft.com/content/85aaec2e-6755-3652-b054-5ee0ce9c130c|title=Founder of FTSE 250 joinery Howdens to step down|work=www.ft.com|date=6 July 2017|access-date=30 March 2020}} and the appointment Andrew Livingston who joined as chief executive in January 2018.{{Cite web|url=https://www.diyweek.net/andrew-livingston-to-join-howdens-as-ceo-by-end-of-the-month|title=Andrew Livingston to join Howdens as CEO by end of the month|website=www.diyweek.net|access-date=2019-09-25}} In September 2019, Howdens refreshed the creative execution of the brand – with a new logo and the removal of "Joinery" from the brand mark.{{cite web|url= https://www.insightdiy.co.uk/news/howdens-takes-a-step-into-the-screwfix-backyard/7096.htm|title=Howdens Takes a Step Into the Screwfix Backyard|publisher=Insight DIY|date=5 April 2019|access-date=29 March 2020}}
The brand was listed as a Business Superbrand in September 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://www.superbrands.uk.com/content/2018/howdens-joinery|title=Howdens Joinery|website=Superbrands|language=en-US|access-date=2019-09-24}}
Operations
The company has more than 900 depots nationwide, that sell to the trade (small builders). It also trades as Howdens Cuisines from 60 depots in France and Belgium.
Howdens sells kitchens (including worktops, flooring, appliances, sinks, taps and lighting), bedrooms, joinery, hardware, tools, and bathroom cabinetry. It offers a free home survey and planning service.{{Cite web|url=https://www.which.co.uk/reviews/fitted-kitchens/article/best-kitchen-brands/howdens-joinery-kitchens|title=Howdens Joinery Kitchens|website=Which?|language=en|access-date=2019-09-25}}
The company manufactures its cabinets, laminate worktops and breakfast bars in Howden, East Yorkshire and Runcorn, Cheshire. All products manufactured by Howdens hold the FSC chain of custody certification.{{Cite web|url=https://info.fsc.org/details.php?id=a0240000005sVNxAAM&type=certificate|title=FSC Public Search|website=info.fsc.org|access-date=2019-09-25}}
References
{{reflist|30em}}
{{FTSE 100 Index constituents}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:British companies established in 1995
Category:Manufacturing companies established in 1995
Category:Manufacturing companies based in London
Category:Companies based in the City of Westminster