Häfele UK's Isabel James, category manager for furniture equipment, sliding and assisted Living, and Richard Walton, key account manager for KBB, talk us through what makes the brand-new Utensio collection so special.
Q: Tell us about the new collection – what does it consist of?
A: Isabel James – Utensio is Häfele’s first-ever own-brand collection of in-cabinet storage solutions, blending style and elegance with intelligent, thoughtful functionality. The range features larder pull-outs, corner and base storage, and the UK’s largest capacity integrated bin solution, as well as a wealth of other bin options.
The solutions are all designed to fit a 490mm deep kitchen cabinet, meaning most kitchen cabinets in the UK won’t require adjustments to accommodate Utensio. This feature also makes the range ideal for retrofitting to existing kitchens. Utensio is highly customisable with 3 stylish finishes – Folded, Accent and Glass. This allows customers to match internal storage to a kitchen’s wider aesthetic, and gives them options on price point, too.
Q: Why have you launched it now?
A: Isabel James – Häfele is a one-stop-shop for kitchen spaces, and providing our own internal storage takes that offering a step further. However, we also believe it raises the standards for storage on the market. It’s elevated in style and deeply considered in terms of its function and has also been designed to ensure quick and easy installation. It’s the perfect solution for discerning customers wanting to strike the balance between aesthetics, performance and quality.
Q: Is it in response to any particular trends?
A: Richard Walton – Utensio is the result of Häfele spending decades getting to grips with what both consumers, designers and installers look for when it comes to high-performance storage systems. Each element has been crafted by our team who are conscious of the latest trends, are committed to delivering sleek and stylish solutions, but also intimately understand the practical demands of everyday living, multigenerational living and the needs of the UK KBB market.
Q: What does it offer retailers and designers?
A: Richard Walton – Utensio offers the luxury of choice to retailers and designers who want to make internal storage an essential part of their future kitchen designs. For example, for tall larder solutions, there is the Deluxe Pantry, Swing Larder, and the innovative ‘stack and slide’ Drawer Larder – each of which feature anti-slip mats and load bearing capacities of up to 125kg. They’re designed to provide maximum storage potential with effortless access, but their individual functionality suits kitchens of different styles and layouts.
For multi-generational homes, the Easy Down wall systems provide safe and convenient access to high-mounted items, while the Inline corner solution is ideal for wheelchair users, as it opens within the aperture of the door, enabling easy access to the contents. Maximising every square inch of space, the under-counter storage options – Slim Base, Larder Base and Drawer Base – can work in isolation or collaboratively, while corner solutions Inline, Glide, Slide and Fold make accessing corners easy.
We know integrated bins are incredibly popular amongst modern homeowners, so we’ve created a range designed for practicality, offering multi-purpose storage for waste, recyclables and even children’s toys. The Maxi Flex offers the largest integrated bin capacity on the market, at 98 litres.
Q: What support is Häfele offering retailers with the latest collection?
A: Richard Walton – It was really important to us that Utensio became something retailers could easily adopt – something they could introduce to their installers and fitters, and receive positive feedback of an easy, efficient, mistake-free install. To achieve this, every solution in the Utensio range comes with a fitting kit featuring clear-to-follow, picture-led installation instructions, templates, jigs and the required fittings as standard.
The fitting templates include pre-cut holes for the installer to tape the template into the exact position required, and precise guidelines on where drill holes should be made. This eliminates the need for measuring and narrows the margin of error to almost zero, offering significant efficiency and accuracy benefits. They’re truly sympathetic to the challenges installers face each time they kit out cabinets with internal storage solutions – and we believe they’ll be game changing.
Isabel James – Alongside the fitting kits, we’ve launched a dedicated UK-based mobile showroom to take Utensio on the road. It will be available to book via the Häfele website, and it gives designers and installers the chance to explore the range in person, so we encourage as many retailers as possible to experience the Utensio mobile showroom for themselves. For our Studio Partners, we’ve also created propping kits, which contain ‘how to’ advice pieces detailing how best to dress Utensio units on display. Utensio products are also backed by a market-leading 12-year guarantee, reflecting our confidence in their craftsmanship and our dedication to ensuring consumers can trust in their purchase.”
Q: Are you currently looking to grow your retailer network?
A: Isabel James – We're always looking to extend the retailer network with partners who prioritise high quality functionality and strong collaborative relationships. By expanding our own brand range and working with top suppliers we can continue to serve the industry as a ‘one stop shop’ across different product needs whilst backed by our industry leading Service+ proposition.
