Interview with Kesseler Kitchen

In 2020, Covid brought that chapter to an abrupt end. After more than 30 years in hospitality, I decided to completely change direction and moved into estate agency. I bought an agency, bringing with me everything I’d learned about customer service and customer experience, and ran it for four years before selling the business last year.

During that time, I came across Kesseler and ultimately bought a kitchen business which, for me, feels like coming full circle. I’ve gone from commercial kitchens to residential ones, reconnecting with my love of cooking and beautifully designed spaces. After all, who doesn’t love a great kitchen?

That’s me in a nutshell. I’m turning 50 this year, I’ve got two girls, and I’m very much a typical dad, just with a lifetime of experience across hospitality, business, and now kitchens.

How did the business start and what inspired it?

The simplest way to explain it is that it all started with my own kitchen. I’d had it fitted about three years earlier and was looking to add a few extra units. I went back to the place I’d originally bought it from, but to be brutally honest, I had a really poor customer experience. I walked out thinking I’d rather take my money elsewhere. I started Googling alternative suppliers and came across Kesseler.

Being the sort of person I am, I began digging into the brand and their website. They’re beautiful kitchens. At the time, I’ll be honest, I didn’t think I could afford one personally, but what really caught my attention was their business model. They describe it as a franchise, but it’s much more of a partnership. That intrigued me. At the time, I still owned my estate agency, so it wasn’t something I was actively looking to jump into straight away. But I had a feeling I’d likely exit that business within the next couple of years, and I knew I’d need something else to move on to.

Kesseler is a family‑run business that was founded in 2009, so they’ve been going for around 17 years now. They’re based in Nottingham and were originally set up in the traditional way, supplying kitchen furniture through independent retailers and manufacturers.

In 2019, they evolved their business model and moved into a partnership approach, working directly with business owners like myself to help accelerate their growth. They refer to it as a franchise, but in reality it’s much more of a partnership.

We’re only tied to Kesseler when it comes to kitchen furniture, the cabinets and doors. Everything else is completely flexible. Worktops, quartz, ceramics, granite, marble; we can source those from wherever we choose. The same goes for appliances. We do partner with well‑known appliance brands such as Smeg, which many customers recognise, as well as Fisher & Paykel at the more premium end, and Bora.

Are there any new products in the pipeline this year? Anything exciting or a big launch we should look out for?

Not specifically new products, the biggest focus is actually the showroom itself. We’re Kesseler’s latest showroom, and as the brand continues to expand, we’re likely one of their flagship locations. The space is large, well positioned, and certainly one of the biggest showrooms in the network.

From a product point of view, we showcase the full Kesseler range. That includes everything from very contemporary, handleless, slab‑fronted kitchens through to more traditional styles. For example, we can design German‑style kitchens with 100mm plinths, or a more British aesthetic with 150mm plinths, it’s those details that help define the look and feel.

We also offer classic shaker kitchens, in‑frame designs, and everything in between. In reality, the most popular styles we’re seeing are either handleless contemporary kitchens or more traditional shaker designs.

So those are the main styles people are looking for at the moment?

Yes, broadly speaking, but what really sets us apart is that we’re truly bespoke. We offer bespoke sizing, which is something many kitchen companies simply can’t do.

Kesseler uses a just‑in‑time manufacturing process, meaning every kitchen is made to order. That gives us real flexibility. We can work with standard sizes, but if a project needs units that are slightly wider, deeper, or narrower, we can do that too. True bespoke does come at a higher cost, of course, but for customers who want that level of precision, it makes a huge difference.

If you had to describe the brand in three words, what would you say?

British, Bespoke and Beautiful

Would you say there are any big challenges for Kesseler and other businesses in Cheltenham at the moment?

One of the biggest challenges for us is the cost of materials. Timber and other raw materials have seen significant price increases over the last six or seven years, and that’s something the whole industry has had to navigate.

That said, where kitchens sit in the market is really interesting, and this is something I also draw on from my time in estate agency. A beautiful kitchen doesn’t just look good, it can genuinely help sell a house and add real value to it and when people are moving home, the kitchen becomes one of the most important spaces.

One thing people find surprising with our kitchens is how affordable they actually are. Being an independent, high quality, British manufacturer, which can do bespoke sizing if needed. The perception is it is therefore expensive and unaffordable to many. Come and see for yourselves you will be amazed!

How many people work here?

Myself, we’ve got two brilliant designers

William, spent 25 to 30 years with a London‑based company specialising in ultra high‑end, bespoke kitchens. That level of experience and craftsmanship is invaluable. Alongside him is James, our other designer, who has around 40 years in the industry. He comes from a strong background as well, having previously worked in Ascot at a very high level.

Between them, they bring an incredible depth of knowledge to Kesseler, not just in creating stunning designs, but understanding how to put a great kitchen together from both a functional and design perspective. That experience makes a huge difference.

---

Investing in a Kesseler kitchen is an investment in your home and your lifestyle. Supreme quality, craftsmanship, engineering and design allows you to enhance your property with our stunning kitchens, whilst adding value through enjoyment of family time, shared experiences and improved living spaces in your home.

Monday to Saturday: 9am-5pm

Closed on a Sunday