About the market:

The cookware market is a durable and adaptable one, which has shown flexibility and innovation to keep pace with modern trends over the review period. Distribution is diverse and it therefore provides opportunity for players prepared to both diversify into niche markets, and cater for the masses through the grocery multiples. This market, which was last examined by Mintel in 2003, has shown steady growth, only slightly tempered by recent retail conditions. The evidence suggests that the cookware market has changed focus from a functional, needs based proposition to a design, shape and colour led market.

Distribution remains extremely varied for cookware. Grocery multiples have rapidly increased their share of sales, which now stands at 20% of cookware and 36% for bakeware, but department stores still account for 18% of cookware sales. There has also been an expansion in terms of specialist cookware shops. Effective strategies to appeal to specific types of consumers are continuing to allow different channels to thrive across the retail spectrum.