Kitchen equipment group Aga Foodservice ““ makers of the legendary cookers favoured by Naked Chef Jamie Oliver ““ today said it had a positive outlook for 2004 after selling a record 10,000 Agas last year.
The stove equipment supplier performed strongly in the UK in 2003, with new product innovations and robust marketing cooking up impressive sales growth within both the Aga and Rangemaster cooker divisions.
Chief executive William McGrath said: “We now have our strongest ever product ranges available and have much enhanced routes to market.
“After a year of concentrated effort and consolidation within the operations, we see our prospects for 2004 as promising.”
Its results benefited from the £29.5 million acquisition of the 55-store Fired Earth chain ““ the upmarket period design and decorative ceramic manufacturers.
But while the Birmingham-based group saw UK consumer operations flourish, US sales faced challenging conditions for most of the year.
East Coast-based Domain Home Fashions had a mixed year following the completion of a 25% retail space expansion programme and a subsequent drop in profits.
However, the group wass optimistic for 2004 based on a good overall performance by Domain stores throughout 2003.
And Marvel ““ a specialist in products such as ice machines and outdoor refrigerators ““ performed in line with hopes following its acquisition in September.
Aga, which also fits refrigeration and bakery equipment for Marks & Spencer and Safeway, saw commercial foodservice operations remain quiet in Europe, particularly in the UK where hotels and supermarkets delayed capital spending programmes.
On the continent, Aga’s French bakery equipment manufacturer Bongard, was held back by reorganisation and high product development costs, but US operations performed well in refrigeration and bakery.
In line with its long-term growth strategy, Aga plans to launch some major new lines which are likely to have a significant impact this year, including the all-electric Aga ““ a new generation of commercial fryers and premium refrigeration made by Marvel.
Well known in the UK for its timeless design, there are thought to be 700,000 Aga cookers in use worldwide.
The Aga cooker was conceived in the 1920s by Dr Gustaf Dalen, a Swedish physicist and Nobel Prize Winner.