Kohler chief sees brand’s expanding foothold in Philippines

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines offers great potential for Kohler’s growth in Southeast Asia due to its robust economy and rising income, the head of US manufacturing firm Kohler said.

Chairman and CEO David Kohler, who was recently in Manila for the third leg of his Asian tour, underscored Kohler’s long-standing commitment to delivering exceptional design and quality to Filipino homes.

As a recognized global kitchen and bath design leader focused on helping people live healthy and sustainable lives with its quality products, David sees Kohler as a perfect fit for the Philippine market with its steady growth and deepening appreciation for innovation and excellent design.

“There’s a vibrant development happening on the luxury level, in mall, residential, commercial, and hospitality [areas]. So, there’s a whole vibe here [in the Philippines], and it’s an exciting time for the country,” he said.

Kohler met with several local partners across the real estate, property development and home improvement sectors, emphasizing Kohler’s commitment to making high-end, quality products and enhancing its presence in the country.

He emphasized how working with businesses in the Philippines is crucial to ensuring their values and standards are upheld in every market.

“We stand for a single level of quality in everything we do. But we need to build trust on a local market basis,” he said. “And you do that through establishing a partner network with distributors that can extend that service level and commitment to architects, designers and consumers in the market.”