Hobs heat up Britain's luxury kitchen market as £9,000 French range leads trend
Induction hobs and premium brands reshape the high-end kitchen market amid inflation and cost-of-living pressures
Britain's premium kitchen market is tilting toward state-of-the-art hobs, with buyers willing to pay top prices for induction ranges rather than traditional display pieces such as Aga cookers or Le Creuset cookware. A La Cornue 110cm electric range cooker with five induction hobs is listed at £9,039 at John Lewis, while a 90cm version is priced at £8,240.
The shift comes as inflation bites and households tighten budgets, yet demand for high-quality kitchen goods persists in some segments. The Aga brand, now owned by Illinois-based Middleby, reported a painful drop in sales this summer, a reflection of broader pressure on upmarket appliances. La Cornue, another heritage French brand also owned by Middleby, has for years bridged tradition and tech in the premium kitchen. Prospects for the category remain uneven as consumers weigh cost against performance, but high-end brands say advanced cookery tech is helping to sustain interest in top-tier products. Le Creuset, famed for its stoneware and enamelware, remains a coveted name even as the company grapples with the macro headwinds that have cut pre-tax profits by about 80% since 2020. The resale market for Le Creuset items is lively, with platforms like eBay and Vinted confirming continued demand for classic pieces even as fresh purchases face price gates.
Smeg’s managing director, Daniel Hadley, told The Telegraph that economic conditions are challenging for marketing, yet the brand continues to attract buyers who aspire to quality in the kitchen. He said people are not necessarily trading down; instead, they are choosing the best product they can afford. Smeg has broadened its portfolio beyond retro-focused designs and is promoting higher-end items such as kettles and other essentials to elevate cooking and beverage routines. Last year the company reported sales growth of 3.3%, underscoring that demand for premium kitchen goods persists even amid cost-of-living pressures.
Le Creuset’s premium positioning remains intact, but the economics of the business have shifted. While the brand remains a status symbol for many households, its new sales have not kept pace with inflation, and profits have contracted sharply since 2020. The resale market’s vitality underscores how deeply ingrained the brand is in consumer culture, even as some buyers choose to wait for sales or to source lightly used pieces.
Across the broader economy, the backdrop for Rachel Reeves as she prepares for a pivotal Budget is complicated. The OECD warned that price pressures in Britain would be among the strongest of any major economy this year and only behind the United States next year. Growth is pencilled in at about 1.4% this year, with a slide to around 1% in 2026 as higher taxes and spending adjustments bite. The OECD assessment comes as PMI data point to slower private-sector growth, with costs rising and demand subdued, raising concerns about stagflation risks for the Royaume.
The convergence of these dynamics—sharper price pressures, persistent demand for high-quality goods, and an appetite for technologically enhanced cooking—helps explain why the hob has become a focal point of the kitchen as a status and functional centerpiece. For many buyers, the appeal lies not in merely owning an appliance but in owning a capable system that fuses traditional cooking values with modern performance. The result is a market where £9,000 French ranges sit alongside premium induction hobs and connected kitchen devices, signaling a shift in what the middle and upper classes consider essential to the modern, well-appointed home.