Hastings kitchen firm scoops national trophy

Kitchen Studio Hastings has won an award for its showroom.

Liz and Nigel Ensor took over the business in 2008 and moved from Dannevirke after Liz, an award-winning designer, was shoulder-tapped about taking over the Hastings operation.

Mr Ensor, a veteran franchisee, having owned the Export Meat Warehouse in Dannevirke, said he particularly like the Kitchen Studio franchise model.

"A major strength of our organisation is that we, the frachisees, own the master franchise - a little bit like the Foodstuffs system," he said.

"Some of the people that started 30 years ago are still franchisees.

"That says something about the strength of the business models."

Kitchen Studio started nearly 30 years ago in Invercargill and a franchise network was set up doing flat-pack kitchens for the DIY market. "They soon realised that the market wanted a 'do it for me' product and the business morphed into what we see today," Mr Ensor said.

There are 19 Kitchen Studios throughout New Zealand, with the one on the corner of Hastings St and St Aubyn St judged the best.

But it is not style over substance, Mr Ensor says.

"We have 23,000 stock lines available for the use of trained consultants and only use hardware items that have only undergone rigorous testing to national and international standards - our drawers are put through 180,000 cycles.

The trophy was not available for the photo shoot - it sits pride of place on their mantelpiece at home. "I was very thrilled to win the award. It is a very coveted trophy within the organisation."