In the final episode of Season 17 of The kbbreview Podcast, we've got an exclusive interview with one of the biggest names in kitchen retail - Magnet.

Founded in 1918 in Bingley, Yorkshire, by Tom Duxbury, and famously named after his horse, Magnet has become one of the most recognisable brands in the UK kitchen market. But recent years have been anything but straightforward.

Following a prolonged period of declining performance and an unwieldy estate of underperforming stores, the business has been deep in turnaround mode.

However, it does have that enviable brand equity and the turnaround does seem to have been working under former head George Dymond.

When Dymond stepped down last October, former commercial & customer director Sophie Rose took the reins of Magnet just as parent company Nobia agreed a sale to Alteri Partners.

The deal returned Magnet to British ownership and, as Rose explains in this episode, puts the business firmly back in control of its own destiny.

So kbbreview's George Dean met up with Sophie Rose and it's a really interesting insight into plans, outlook, the old chestnut of the never-ending sale and what role Magnet could and should be playing in the wider kitchen retail industry.

It’s a fascinating, timely discussion and a fitting finale to the season.

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Welcome to The kbbreview Podcast and it's Part Two of our kbbreview Retail & Design Awards 2026 winners special.

Since the launch in September last year we've been doing special bonus episodes of the podcast all about the awards and now, we're at the sharp end, we're at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole, and the party has begun.

As with all our special awards bonus episodes, a huge thank you to our 2026 Awards Podcast Partner Sonas Bathrooms - you can find out all about them at sonasbathrooms.com.

So in Part One we heard from all the winners in our design categories as well as our Special Achievement winner. In this second part we'll be catching up with winners from the Retail and Showroom categories, as well as the Rising Star, Unsung Hero, Installation Company and Supplier Team of the Year.

Now let's get on with the business at hand!

Huge congratulations to all of our winners, massive thank to all our sponsors and, of course, a very special thanks to our 2026 Awards Podcast Partner Sonas Bathrooms.

And remember, if you fancy being here next year then, believe it or not, entries open for the kbbreview Retail & Design Awards 2027 in September and we'll actually be announcing the host city and venue for that in a few weeks.

So thank you for listening and see you in September!

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Welcome to The kbbreview Podcast and this penultimate special bonus episode all about the kbbreview Retail & Design Awards 2026.

And it's all come down to this. Host Matt Baker is at the event itself in the Hilton Birmingham Metropole and it's all happening!

As always, these special awards podcasts are all courtesy of our 2026 Awards Partner Sonas Bathrooms and, of course, you can find out all about them at sonasbathrooms.com.

We join Matt huddled at the back of the room while everyone is eating their dinner after an amazing welcome reception, he's got a quick chat with one of the kbbreview team - Commercial Director Tara McTIgue - and then we go straight into the actual ceremony with our brilliant host Jayde Adams.

We'll be hearing from all winners over two episodes - in this Part One we'll hear from our design winners as well as our Special Achievement awards recipient. And then in Part Two we'll meet the winners of the Retail and Showroom categories, as well as the Rising Star, Unsung Hero, Installation Company and Supplier Team of the Year.

So it's a lot to get through so let's crack on with the show!

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