KOHLER, a leader in kitchen and bath design and technology, hopes to achieve double-digit growth in the Middle East and has concrete plans to achieve its target. These include enhancement of quality, expansion of product portfolio, launch of a team of designers to analyse trends and consumer behaviour and creating more sustainable products.

“There is still a good amount of construction activity in the region. Hence, we will continue to increase our market penetration with our new products forming a critical aspect of our growth strategy,” says David Kohler, president and COO of the US-based company.
David was in the UAE recently as his company hosted its yearly Middle East distributor conference in Abu Dhabi to discuss the company’s designs, innovations, quality, and opportunities and competition across the GCC.
He says that Kohler continues to bring into the market more than 1,200 products a year, a recent innovation being an electronic faucet available with a battery pack that lasts for 30 years.

He continues: “Sustainability and water conservation is a very important aspect for our business. An example of our sustainable products is the waterless urinals that are good for commercial establishments. We also have a new European collection for residential application. A majority of the water conservation products are targeted at the Middle East region.
 “Using water wisely is an imperative element to sustainable design. For consumers and trade experts, choosing water-saving plumbing products is easy and can have a huge impact on water consumption,” he adds.
As a 137-year-old privately-owned company, what is unique about Kohler, according to David, is that the company believes in the principle of reinvesting. “We reinvest over 90 per cent of our earning back into the business and even in the current difficult economic times we have continued to do so in order to gain new markets,” David says.
Kohler has a global presence with more than 30,000 employees and associates, 51 plants worldwide, and a diverse portfolio of leading brands in plumbing, engines and power generation systems, fine furniture, and hospitality and world-class golf destinations. It has 16 sales offices in the Middle and is present throughout the GCC, Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon.
Some of the regional projects the company has been involved in include Princess Noura University, Al Khobar Lakes and Al Madina Hotel in Saudi Arabia; Ghurair City, JW Marriott, Rocco Forte Hotel and American Hospital extension in the UAE; and AHB Tower-Dubai Pearl in Qatar.