By Scott Wright
SCOTTISH timber merchant James Donaldson & Sons has acquired an award-winning kitchen business.
Family-owned James Donaldson, which was formed in 1860, highlighted “strong synergistic opportunities” as it announced the addition of Broxburn-based Kitchens International to its portfolio of brands.
The kitchens company has six showrooms across Scotland and a “strong” fitting division. It joins a family of brands operating under the James Donaldson family, which includes MGM Timber, Donaldson Timber Engineering, James Donaldson Timber, James Donaldson Insulation, Smith & Frater, Rowan Manufacturing and Nu-Style Products.
All eighty staff of Kitchens International have transferred to James Donaldson, including its executive team, led by managing director Gerry Watson. The management of Kitchens International will remain in place, working alongside James Donaldson chief executive Andrew Donaldson and the Fife-based company’s senior leadership team.
A spokeswoman said there is “no exit timeline” for the owners of Kitchens International.
Mr Donaldson said: “It is a privilege to welcome the Kitchens International Ltd family to our Donaldson family; we anticipate exciting times ahead both within the kitchen market and its associated interiors including bathrooms, bedrooms and home offices. Adding the Kitchens International brand to our current portfolio will yield strong synergistic opportunities for both businesses. As always, the most important thing will be people and we are looking forward to working with Kitchens International Ltd across both the board and full team.”
Mr Watson said: “Over the past 27 years we are proud to have grown Kitchens International to become a leading UK kitchen brand and are excited that our next growth chapter will be as part of the James Donaldson Group.”
“With shared values and vision, together we can provide greater opportunity for all our brand community; our staff, our brand ambassadors and our suppliers.”
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