The kitchen makers UK business has been flourishing
Wren Kitchens in Barton(Image: Rick Byrne)
Wren Kitchens’ decision to pull out the US market will not impact its Barton-based UK business, bosses have confirmed. The brand, which has more than 120 showrooms throughout the UK and is owned by Hull-born entrepreneur Malcolm Healey, has filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in the States, where it launched about six years ago.
It says the move, which has brought job losses and store closures, will allow it to focus investment in its UK business, which is growing. Newly published accounts for the UK business, Wren Kitchens Limited, show turnover topped £1bn in 2025 – the second highest level in the company’s history – with operating profits of more than £101m.
The company has talked of opportunity to grow its network of 124 showrooms, including addition of more “small format” locations away from traditional retail parks. In recent years the UK business, which employs more than 7,000 including more than 2,300 at Barton, has also successfully moved into the bedrooms market with a separate factory set up.
All this came despite what CEO Mark Pullan wrote was a “somewhat challenging” year with uncertainty in the economy and a continued slowdown of the housing market which had caused some customers to put off kitchen renovation projects. Wren said it had decided to come out of the US market because it could not reach favourable terms on retail properties to expand its network of stores.
Mr Pullan said: “We reluctantly took the decision to appoint a Trustee who is managing our exit from the US market, in line with US regulations. We regret the impact of this decision on our US colleagues and our customers and thank both of them for their support.
“Our focus is on further growing our UK business where last year we recorded our second most successful year since the business began and hit the £1bn turnover mark with strong profits despite what remains a subdued market. Encouragingly, this market growth has carried through into the first quarter. These results reflect the hard work and dedication of our teams across the business and our sustained re-investment in the business – over £500m over the past 15 years.
“We are beginning to see the early benefits of the investment in our new factory, which is enhancing both capacity and efficiency, while continued investment across our UK operations is helping to improve resilience, support fuel cost stability and reduce our environmental impact.
“While we remain mindful of potential uncertainties arising from the geopolitical situation, we are confident in the strength of our business and with all our focus on the UK, we will be accelerating our new store rollout programme over the year, with the launch of 15 new showrooms as well as new product categories.”
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