UK trade kitchen supplier Howdens is set to acquire DIY Kitchens for £390 in an effort to expand beyond trade customers.

Howdens announced the transaction, which it said is “expected to be immediately accretive to revenue, EBIT margin, and EPS with strong cash generation and returns above the cost of capital”, yesterday. It purchased the company at an 8.5 times multiple of its EBITDA to March 2026, it added.

The company said the acquisition will allow it to grow its customer base in the UK by accessing “motivated” consumers. DIY Kitchens is vertically integrated across manufacturing and supply chains, which allow it to offer “high quality, made-to-order product,” with low overheads.

The company does not intend to merge the two operations, as DIY Kitchens serves a distinct customer base to Howdens, but it does believe there are cost saving opportunities around raw materials, sourcing and machinery.

DIY Kitchens has grown consistently over the last five years, averaging over 17 per cent. In 2025, it generated £136 million in revenue with an operating profit of £37 million, which Howdens described as highly profitable.

The deal will be financed through £292.5 million cash and £97.5 million in Howdens shares.

Andrew Livingston, chief executive of Howdens, said that DIY Kitchens shares many of the characteristics that make Howdens successful including well-invested manufacturing, strong vertical integration, scalable capabilities and a deep, well-embedded entrepreneurial culture.

“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,” he added. “The acquisition of DIY Kitchens, which will be operated on a standalone basis, adds a complementary very profitable business to the Group, providing access to non-trade end customers through its direct online channel with self-service planning, design and ordering tools.”

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