If cooking outdoors is common in many countries, this practice has been slow to take hold in France. Today, this range of products is increasingly successful in France, with modular and durable products. Antoine Thomas, co-director of ENO, testifies to this evolution.
Read our feature on outdoor kitchens in issue 215 of Intramuros.
How has ENO seen the outdoor kitchen sector evolve in France in recent years?
The outdoor kitchen market really took off in France in 2018. It is mainly based on a range of modular products, which allow for the easy creation of layouts according to the space available. Very often clients come with a fairly structured project and a significant budget. This is a continuation of the house’s design with a new outdoor living area. Given the changing climate, we expect the market to continue to develop.
Do you notice any evolution in terms of design ?
The metal trend in outdoor furniture has clearly opened the way to steel or stainless steel modules. At ENO, we work with the design office La Racine with whom we design the outdoor kitchens of tomorrow. With Covid, the market has taken off in a big way and consumer expectations are evolving towards an even wider range of products to meet the requirements of outdoor and indoor living (fridge, cooking hob, island, etc.).
Is the demand for a “nomadic” kitchen with different modules still the priority or has the demand evolved more towards fixed outdoor kitchens?
For a long time the market was limited to fixed outdoor kitchens made of hard materials. What explains its evolution is really the offer of modules, each of which has its own function and which can be assembled endlessly. However, the development of the market has contributed to broaden the offer and to revitalize this segment. We feel that we are moving upmarket in both fixed and mobile products.
Do you work mainly in France or more on export?
ENO sells its planchas and kitchens mainly in France, but exports represent a growing part of its activity, particularly in Europe and North America, via a network of distributors and retailers. The brand’s move upmarket increasingly requires the use of specialized dealers, and for outdoor kitchens, the nature of the projects has led us to turn to specifiers such as landscapers, architects and outdoor decorators.
