Swedish kitchen furniture group Nobia, owner of UK brand Magnet, has continued its transformation within Britain, transitioning to an ‘asset-light model’.

As part of the transformation of the UK business, Nobia previously announced the closure of its Halifax manufacturing site back in April this year, reducing the number of manufacturing sites in the UK from five in the second quarter 2023 to two by the end of the second quarter 2024.

The Group is now taking further measures in the transition to an asset-light model in the UK by closing underperforming stores that are up for lease renewal and further ‘decentralising of operations’.

“The measures will result in annualized savings of approximately SEK 160m, which will reach full effect by 2025,” the group said in a statement. “The total cost of these changes, which will be recorded as items affecting comparability in Nobia’s interim report for the second quarter 2024, amount to approximately SEK 180m of which approximately SEK 60m is non-cash. The amounts include the previously announced closure of the Halifax manufacturing.

“Furthermore, due to continued low volumes in new construction across the Nordic region, demand from project customers remains low. To adapt to these lower volumes, cost-reducing measures, mainly related to reduction of indirect staff and external warehousing, are being implemented in the Nordic supply chain.

“The annual savings from these measures will amount to approximately SEK 38m and will reach full effect by Q1 2025. These measures will incur a cost of SEK 16m and will be recorded as items affecting comparability in the second quarter of 2024.”