Howdens to acquire DIY Kitchens owner in £390m deal
Howdens is to acquire the parent company of Ultima Furniture Systems, which trades as DIY Kitchens, for an enterprise value of £390 million.
The Pontefract-based business sells its products exclusively online, mainly to customers looking to self-manage the purchase of their kitchen, and provides them with self-service planning, design and ordering tools. The company operates short production runs for a made-to-order offering.
Subscribe to TRBThe online proposition is supported by two large destination showrooms where customers can see displays of products. A third showroom is currently under construction in Scotland.
Howdens said DIY Kitchens’ business model is quite distinct from its own trade-only, full-service business, and will enable it to expand its UK consumer base by accessing non-trade customers.
Following completion of the sale, DIY Kitchens will be operated separately from the Howdens business. In 2025, it generated revenue of £136 million and EBIT of £37 million.
Andrew Livingston, chief executive of Howdens, said: “Howdens’ highly successful trade-only model is built around supporting solely trade customers with outstanding in-stock availability, expert local depot teams, and an end-to-end service from design through to delivery.
“We are excited to welcome the DIY Kitchens team to Howdens. We have great respect for the innovative business model they have built, and we look forward to supporting the business’s continued growth and investing behind its next phase of development.”
