'Gas and Electric Cookers in the UK' is the latest research report into this market from Mintel. Providing a unique understanding of the market's trends and consumers, it offers an extensive insight into:

- The extent to which consumer confidence is sustaining market growth

-The implications for the market presented by the trend for people to choose to improve their current homes rather then move.

- How price erosion has influenced volume and value growth,

- The shortening of replacement cycles

- Why 'distress purchases' are still vital for the market,

- Cooking as an activity/hobby/interest and the positive effects for the market

- Gradual polarisation in the market by price and size.

- The high level of NPD that is encouraging consumers to trade up.

- Electric cookers sector dominates

- The concentration of the market's supply structure and the major retail trends

- Low advertising-to-sales ratio

- The reasons why consumers choose the cookers they do

- Future prospects - how they could well be

- With continued interest in cooking, consumers are also increasingly knowledgeable and informed when buying new cookers so may be prepared to pay more for useful new features

Mintel previously reported on the gas and electric cookers market in October 2001, with this new report reviewing the overall trends over the last two years and the key factors that have influenced the market. The prospects for future performance of the market over the next five years are also assessed in light of current developments, trends and socio-economic factors. With a strong housing market during the early part of the 21st Century and with many consumers re-mortgaging due to historically low interest rates, many are choosing to upgrade their homes, thus benefiting sales of household appliances such as cookers and - especially - built-in appliances. As such, the market for gas and electric cookers has experienced strong growth in the last couple of years, with growth also driven by active new product development by the manufacturers of cooking appliances.

This report examines the UK retail market for gas and electric cookers, ovens and hobs, including free-standing and built-in appliances. Excluded from the report are contract sales of cooking appliances, as well as the second-hand and rental sector.

The definition includes range-style cookers, but not traditional ranges such as those sold under the Aga and Rayburn brands. True ranges are permanently 'on' and usually fuel central heating and hot water systems, as well as offering a cooking function, whereas range-style cookers are conventional free-standing cookers with range styling and some range features. Gas, electricity or a combination of the two, with the appearance and some of the functions of a true range, may fuel such cookers.

Other recent Mintel reports of relevance to this market include:

- Fridges and Freezers - UK, Market Intelligence, September 2003

- Cookware - UK, Market Intelligence, June 2003

- Microwave Ovens - UK, Market Intelligence, April 2003

- White Goods Retailing - UK, Retail Intelligence, December 2001.