Baumatic website

Privately owned company - headquarters, I think, in Italy.

When I first started designing kitchens ... ooh, well over ten years ago, now ... Baumatic had a very bad reputation. Their appliances were cheap - but not very cheerful. On that basis I wouldn't have included them here ... but these days they have a much better reputation. I've been assured by retailers (and they're the ones that get the hassle when things break down) that Baumatic reliability is now OK.

 

Britannia Living website

Britannia have been supplying range cookers in the UK for over twenty years. I believe the cookers are actually made in Italy but Britannia is based in Blackpool and they have their own delivery and installation teams and their own service engineers. The build quality of the appliances is very good and, as a result, the cookers are quite pricey ... so give them a miss if you're just going to heat up ready meals. If you're a serious cook, though, they're well worth a look.

Gorenje website

Gorenje (pronounced gor-en-ya, I believe) ... is a huge Slovenian company which used not to be very well known in the UK. Brand awareness has increased considerably in the last year or two ... and they're a good company to look at, if you want designer looks for your appliances.

They also have some much more down to earth credentials, with environmentally friendly manufacturing processes and plenty of A and A⁺⁺ rated appliances ... together with a 5 year parts and labour gaurantee on many of them.

Information on Stoves cookers, ovens and hobs is available on their web site, where you can also request details of a local retailer

Part of the Glen Dimplex Group which also includes Belling, LEC and New World

Stoves use the catch phrase "Now that's thought for food" and say that they've been putting new thought and innovation into food for over eighty years. They've certainly won a few industry awards, including the Domestic & General TEQ Award for Customer Service.