Bringing High-Design Outdoor Kitchen materials to the North American Market
The National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA), representing nearly 50,000 North American kitchen and bath industry professionals and the owners of the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS), announces its newest NKBA Global Connect Program Member: Vlaze, established to focus on porcelain enamel for the living environment.
Vlaze is a fifty-year-old, 3rd generation family business on a small Island in the UK. “We began as metal fabricators and grew the business over the years with several brands, our largest being Charnwood Wood Burning Stoves, which are sold all around the world and regarded as the cleanest burning British made stoves you can buy,” said Matthew Langridge, Vlaze spokesperson.
“30 years ago, in an economic downturn on stoves we began making the iconic signage and cladding for London Underground and the Paris Metro, and this began our work in Porcelain enamel,” continued Langridge.
Vlaze took their knowledge of porcelain enamel and repurposed the material by launching a high-end residential surface finish. In 2019, Vlaze designed a range of modular kitchen units clad in enamel, with a unique design aesthetic and highly engineered quality. In August 2022, Vlaze will be launching Vlaze Adapt Outdoor kitchen islands in the USA.
The one defining thing that makes Vlaze Outdoor kitchens special and unique is the Porcelain Enamel. Durable and made to last, Vlaze is designed to complement high design outdoor living furniture.
“The outdoor kitchen market is a much bigger in North America than in Europe and the UK,” said Matt Hugg, Vlaze US spokesperson. “Our product is unique as it’s fully built and will be available in stock where customers can have them directly delivered and installed in a matter of days.”
When it comes to sustainability and sourcing materials, Vlaze sources everything locally when possible. Glass and steel materials are naturally sourced components and fully recyclable at the end of life. The long-lasting nature of the products helps make it a sustainable investment.
Vlaze is aiming for Carbon Neutral by 2050.
Vlaze hopes to develop a brand that is low volume, with high value outdoor kitchens in both the US and worldwide.
The NKBA Global Connect Subscription program offers a robust package of resources and connections to help international brands enter the North American kitchen and bath marketplace. Access to industry experts, proprietary NKBA market data, North American design and construction insights, VIP events and networking programs give NKBA Global Connect Subscribers a unique view into the market before they commit to launch. For more information on NKBA Global Connect please contact globalconnect@nkba.org.
“We are so pleased to welcome Vlaze into the NKBA Global Connect program,” said Suzie Williford, EVP and chief strategy officer of NKBA. “We have built an outstanding program designed to help marketers navigate the vast North American kitchen and bath market, and it’s gratifying to see it embraced.”
To learn more about Vlaze, visit www.vlaze.us
About NKBA Global Connect
The NKBA Global Connect goal is to expand the visibility of the NKBA and the Association’s premier trade show event — the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) — internationally with design professionals, brands, influencers and other industry constituents. The initiative is designed to facilitate discussion on conducting business and participating in trade development events in North America and, conversely, in Europe and beyond for North American brands looking to extend their global footprint.
About the National Kitchen & Bath Association and the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show
The National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) is the not-for-profit trade association that owns the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show® (KBIS), as part of Design & Construction Week® (DCW). With nearly 50,000 members in all segments of the kitchen and bath and design and remodeling industry, the NKBA has educated and led the industry since the association’s founding in 1963. The NKBA envisions a world where everyone enjoys safe, beautiful and functional kitchen and bath spaces. The mission of the NKBA is to inspire, lead and empower the kitchen and bath industry through the creations of certifications, specialty badges, marketplaces and networks. For more information, visit www.NKBA.org or call 1-800-THE-NKBA (843-6522).
KBIS® and NKBA® are registered trademarks of the National Kitchen & Bath Association.