Waterline, Crown Imperial’s exclusive distributor and a leading UK distributor of appliances in the UK, has ceased trading and entered administration.
Waterline was established in 1985 and became part of the Crown Imperial group of companies in 2011. It billed itself as “the UK’s largest supplier to the independent kitchen specialist sector”, with a distribution head office in Newport Pagnell and depots in Bolton and Bristol. It sold appliances from BSH, Samsung, Haier, Fisher & Paykel, Franke, Whirlpool, Hotpoint, Stoves and more.
The latest development comes after months of talks with investors to try and save the company, which sold and other brands.
Crown Imperial, the kitchen and bedroom supplier which was exclusively distributed by Waterline, will now distribute its products directly to customers. How independent electrical retailer customers will be affected is unclear as Sirius and Retra are yet to comment on the issue.
Speaking exclusively to ERT, Bira Chief Executive Andrew Goodacre said that the organisation had not heard from Waterline customers, but that this could be a good sign that the lines of communication between Waterline and its customers remain open.
He said he hoped that the industry could rally together to help the situation, but said that the demise of Waterline, and the recent demise of D.A.D demonstrates the difficulty and the challenges across the retail sector at the moment.
“We focus on the retail and the shops,” he said. We see closures there all the time, and the rate of closure increasing. What we what we don’t always appreciate, is the impact on the supply chain. And I think that’s a point that we need to increasingly stress to government departments because they’re often small businesses that also need help.”
Crown Imperial Managing Director, Barry Head, commented: “We are deeply saddened by the news that Waterline has entered administration. Crown Imperial would like to extend its heartfelt thanks to Waterline for their unwavering dedication to us, our customers and the KBB industry.”
Crown Imperial has directly contacted its retailer network to communicate the transition, while the Crown factory team are working closely with customers to successfully implement the update.
Mr Head continued: “The entire Crown Imperial team would like to thank all our loyal retailers for their understanding; we are also incredibly grateful for the positive feedback and support received. Our customers remain at the heart of everything we do, and we are committed to delivering the highest levels of service.”
The Kitchen and Bathroom Specialists Association (KBSA) said in a statement, that it is “here to help support our members and the wider industry wherever we can. If you have been impacted or need guidance, please don’t hesitate to reach out.”
A Samsung spokesperson told ERT: “We are extremely sad to hear the news around one of the most respected industry stalwarts and one of our long-standing partners, Waterline Distribution.
“As a business we are committed to the kitchen industry and keen to support your business large or small through this transition. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to your Samsung representative or our distribution partner Häfele Distribution if you need any help or guidance around customer enquiries and orders.”
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