Smeg slump, £9,000 French rival: Brits turn to high-end hobs as kitchen brands recalibrate

Demand for Smeg’s retro-style fridges has cooled as households tighten budgets amid rising prices and higher interest rates, with the brand reporting a dip in demand for its fashionable appliances. While homeowners continue to invest in high-quality kitchens, demand has shifted away from statement fridges toward state-of-the-art cooking technology, with induction hobs and premium ovens capturing attention. The trend mirrors broader pressures hitting mid-to-upper-tier brands, including Aga’s cast-iron cookers and Le Creuset’s stoneware, which have faced slower sales in recent years as cheaper lookalike options flood the market. In this environment, the hob has become a focal point for a kitchen that still signals status but with a tech-forward tilt.

Smeg’s managing director, Daniel Hadley, told The Telegraph that economic conditions have made marketing conditions challenging and that sales have been affected, but he stressed that consumers still aspire to quality. He said: “With the increasing cost of living, people are often spending more time in the home, cooking and entertaining. Rather than ‘trading down’, we see that customers push themselves to buy the best product they can afford.” The company has also broadened its range beyond retro designs, expanding into other kitchen essentials, including kettles, to elevate tea and coffee routines.

In contrast to Smeg’s shift, French heritage brand La Cornue—now owned by Illinois-based Middleby—has bridged tradition and technology, and its products are positioned as high-end yet modern. At retailers such as John Lewis, a La Cornue 110cm electric range cooker with five induction hobs is listed at £9,039, while a 90cm version sells for about £8,240. The presence of induction technology in these traditional-shell ovens underscores a wider industry shift toward more capable, energy-efficient cooking platforms rather than purely decorative centerpieces.

Aga, a British-born brand famous for its cast-iron cookers and long a status symbol in rural homes, has also felt the pinch. Now under the ownership of Illinois-based Middleby, Aga said it had been “negatively impacted” by inflation and rising costs, contributing to softer sales as households evaluate where to spend on kitchen equipment. While the core appeal of Aga remains, buyers increasingly compare options that blend heritage with modern tech, such as induction-based heat transfer and smart controls, rather than sticking with the traditional radiant-heating approach.

Le Creuset, long celebrated for its enamelware and stoneware, remains a staple in many kitchens, but even it has not been immune to the economic headwinds. The brand’s pre-tax profits have fallen by nearly 80 percent since 2020, reflecting broad cost pressures and tighter consumer spending, even as its iconic pieces command strong resale interest on platforms like eBay and Vinted. The luxury kitchen market’s mix of timeless design and modern capability has thus become a lens into broader consumer choices in a climate of rising prices and cautious spending.

The wider macro backdrop adds context to the mood in premium kitchen circles. The OECD has warned that price pressures in Britain could outpace other large economies this year, with inflation tracking higher than most peers and only modest growth penciled in for the near term. The OECD’s assessment places Prime Ministerial budgeting in a cautious frame as the government navigates a period of higher taxes and spending constraints that could cool activity. In the private sector, recent PMI readings have suggested growth has slowed to its weakest level since May, with higher business costs weighing on demand and prompting tentative job cuts. Taken together, analysts say the UK faces a risk of stagflation—a scenario in which inflation remains elevated even as growth stalls.

Industry observers say the shift toward high-tech cooking solutions reflects both aspirational consumer behavior and the realities of the current economy. While a segment of households continues to invest in premium, feature-rich kitchen appliances, a broader group is recalibrating expectations around price, durability, and energy efficiency. The trend toward induction technology and more sophisticated ovens aligns with a longer-term view of kitchens as multifunctional hubs for cooking, entertaining, and home life, even as the price of living rises and financing remains tighter.

In this evolving landscape, brands are recalibrating not only product lines but also the messaging around quality and value. The emphasis appears to be on performance, efficiency, and longevity—qualities that justify premium prices while addressing consumer concerns about energy use and maintenance costs. Whether the shift represents a lasting realignment or a temporary response to inflation remains a central question for manufacturers and retailers alike as they chart a path through years of economic complexity.