Here are 20 of the NKBA members’ big news, moves, updates, and deals of 2025.
By NKBA Staff
Expansions, New Plants, and Showrooms
GEA Invests in KY: GE Appliances, a Haier company, initiated a nearly half-billion-dollar investment in its Louisville, KY, global headquarters and largest manufacturing site to create its most advanced plant to produce washing machines. The $490 million project creates 800 new, full-time jobs, positions the company to become the biggest American washer manufacturer, and builds on GE Appliances’ 10-year, $3.5 billion investment in U.S. manufacturing.
Cosentino Opens in Three Cities: Global surfacing giant Cosentino Group opened three signature Cosentino City showrooms in Dallas, Richmond, VA (the first in those regions), and Honolulu. Each represents an investment of more than $1.5 million, bringing the total number of City showrooms to 12 in the U.S. and 41 worldwide.
Fabuwood Forges West: Semi-custom cabinetry company Fabuwood has launched a strategic initiative that includes opening a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Tijuana, Mexico, and an upgraded distribution center in Southern California. Benefits include cutting delivery times to the West Coast, lower shipping costs, and less environmental impact.
LIXIL Launched Water Experience Center: Plumbing and housing products giant LIXIL opened a 10,000-square-foot interactive Water Experience Center in New York’s Flatiron District. The space showcases kitchen and bath solutions from LIXIL’s brands — American Standard, GROHE, DXV, INAX, and Basco — and offers an immersive experience for architects, designers, and consumers.
ASKO Opened Experience Center in Spain: Marking the 75th anniversary of the invention of its washing machine, ASKO opened its first Experience Center in Spain. The center, in central Madrid, showcases ASKO’s cooking appliances, laundry care, and dishwashers, and features a wine cellar with the brand’s climate-controlled wine cabinets and space for cooking demonstrations and events.
True Expands in Missouri: Luxury refrigeration brand True Residential opened a 2,100-square-foot showroom in Clayton, MO, near its headquarters and plant in O’Fallon, MO. The space features five distinct vignettes showcasing True’s full-size, indoor/outdoor, and undercounter refrigeration, wine cabinets, refrigerator drawers, beverage centers, and more.
BSH’s NC Investment: BHS Home Appliances said it would invest more than $11 million and add 199 jobs to transform its New Bern, NC, facility into a hub for manufacturing and R&D in the U.S. BSH, parent of the Bosch, Thermador, and Gaggenau brands, is globally headquartered in Munich, Germany, and has a U.S. base in California.
SKS Opened in Chicago: SKS, the luxury appliance brand under the LG Electronics umbrella, opened an Experience & Design Center in Chicago’s landmark The Mart design building. The nearly 9,000-square-foot space, designed by renowned architect Piero Lissoni, features interactive kitchen vignettes by Arclinea and more than 50 SKS appliances, and is SKS’ third EDC in the U.S. after Napa Valley and Englewood Cliffs, NJ.
Vadara Expanded Into the UK: Leading quartz surfaces producer Vadara began an international expansion through a distribution partnership with UK-based The Thomas Group and its brand, The Surface Collection, as part of its global growth strategy. Australia is next, with future opportunities across Europe, Southeast Asia, South America, and other high-potential regions.
Officine Gullo Opened in Dallas: Florence, luxury Italian appliance and kitchen manufacturer Officine Gullo, an NKBA Global Connect member, opened a 4,000-square-foot showroom in Dallas in a former art gallery. It is the company’s seventh flagship gallery in the U.S., with two locations in New York, and sites in Boston, Miami, Palm Beach, and Los Angeles.
Deals, Partnerships, and Updates
LIXIL, American Bath In Partnership: LIXIL Americas and American Bath Group formed a strategic partnership in North America to expand LIXIL’s bath-sector brands, including American Standard, DXV, and Elger. LIXIL licensed exclusive rights to ABG to produce and distribute bath products under the three brands, and ABG acquired LIXIL’s manufacturing facility in Salem, OH, and part of its manufacturing assets in Mansfield, OH, and Monterrey, Mexico.
Caesarstone, Grohe in Deal: Premium surface maker Caesarstone partnered with Grohe Spa, a premium sub-brand of Grohe, to craft faucet handles inlaid with quartz designs. Grohe Spa’s luxury faucets in the Atrio and Allure Brilliant private collections may be paired with Caesarstone countertops in the same designs and finishes to create a seamless look in the bathroom.
Kohler Signed Martha Stewart: Kohler Co. named Martha Stewart as its Kohler Cast Iron Ambassador, the first such role for the company. Stewart, a longtime user and personal advocate of enameled cast iron, collaborates with Kohler on its enameled cast iron collection, including beautifully crafted baths, shower bases, bathroom sinks, and kitchen sinks in an array of colors and styles, ranging from classic to contemporary.
True, Urban Bonfire Collaborated on Outdoor: Luxury refrigeration and professional grill manufacturer True Caliber partnered with outdoor cooking specialist Urban Bonfire to launch a new collection of outdoor kitchen layouts. The collaboration is centered on the Rockwell Social Grill by Caliber, which pairs Urban Bonfire’s powder-coated finishes with True Caliber’s signature bold hues, in configurations including L-shaped, galley, straight, and other custom designs.
Century Communities Selected LG: Century Communities, a leading national home builder, chose LG Electronics USA’s LG Pro Builder division as its national appliance supplier. The deal supplies LG kitchen and laundry appliances to Century’s two homebuilding brands — Century Communities and Century Complete — which operate in 16 states and more than 45 markets across the country.
Rev-A-Shelf Acquired InnovaShelf: Kitchen storage and organization leader Rev-A-Shelf acquired InnovaShelf, a manufacturer of hardware, brackets, and shelving. The deal follows a strategic alliance in February in which Rev-A-Shelf became the exclusive worldwide distributor of the InnovaShelf brand.
LOTTE’s Distribution Deals: LOTTE Chemical, a California manufacturer of high-end engineered quartz surfaces under the Belanco and Radianz Quartz brands, entered a deal with Chicago-based EKO Stone to promote, sell, and distribute Radianz across the Midwest U.S. market. LOTTE also partnered with Texas Counter Fitters (TCF Supply) to sell its surfaces throughout the South-Central U.S., and with Kalacatta Stone LLC, which now distributes LOTTE’s Belanco quartz.
Wilsonart Acquired Virginia Tile Business: Wilsonart acquired Virginia Tile’s woodworking products distribution business, which is headquartered in Kansas City, KS, with branches across Oklahoma, Kansas, and Missouri. These locations distribute decorative surfaces, cabinet accessories, and decorative and functional hardware.
Kodiak Launched Interiors: Building materials distributor Kodiak Building Partners launched Kodiak Interiors Group, a stand-alone business formed through the sale of Kodiak’s appliances and interiors portfolio. The new entity operates independently, is focused on appliances and interiors, and includes existing companies such as Arizona Appliance & Home, Don’s Appliances, FBS Appliance, and Specialty Appliance.
Ferguson’s New Name: Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery introduced its new name at KBIS 2025 and now operates as Ferguson Home. The business includes more than 250 showrooms and over 1,200 product experts.
Thyme & Place Named a Top Blog: Thyme & Place Design, owned by NKBA member Sharon L. Sherman, CKD, ASID, CID, NCIDQ, was named one of the top 100 interior design blogs for 2025 by Feedspot, a media database. Sherman founded her award-winning design-build firm in 2002 in Wyckoff, NJ, and is a member of the Manhattan Chapter.
