CHICAGO — Emerald, which produces the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) and owns Kitchen & Bath Business magazine, announced it acquired Kitchen & Bath Canada (KBC).
“As the producer of the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS), North America’s largest event in this space, this tuck-under acquisition represents a strategic extension of a strong brand into a new market opportunity — one where there is clear demand for a high-quality, nationally focused kitchen and bath experience,” said Brian Pagel, Executive Vice President of Business Development at Emerald. “Canada represents a highly attractive growth opportunity, with a strong design and construction community and rising demand for localized, in-country events that reflect the distinct needs of the Canadian market. This move creates the opportunity to better serve those professionals with a trusted platform built specifically for them.”
In partnership with the National Kitchen & Bath Association, owner of KBIS, Emerald is bringing opportunities for high-quality, curated education programming, product discovery and networking opportunities to the Canadian market through future editions of KBC.
“Our vision for KBC 2025 is to establish it as the premier platform for the Canadian kitchen and bath design industry. Building on the foundation of KBC, we’re bringing the collective strength of Emerald and the NKBA to deliver an elevated experience — featuring enhanced programming and new opportunities for designers and brands to connect,” Pagel said. “Our goal is to create an event that reflects the high standards and design excellence that anyone familiar with KBIS expects — thoughtfully tailored to meet the needs of the Canadian market.”
Plans for the show include elevating the show floor with design-forward sessions inspired by the KBIS NEXTStage and insights from NKBA’s KBMI research. The Emerald team is also working with NKBA chapters and strategic partners to ensure content is relevant to the Candian design and construction community.
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“Exhibitors will gain exposure to qualified trade buyers, while attendees will engage with the latest innovations in materials, technology and design,” Pagel said. “In partnership with NKBA, we’re building a destination for connection, inspiration and growth — one that reflects the high standards of the team behind KBIS and meets the unique needs of the Canadian market.”
Kitchen & Bath Canada will take place at the Toronto Congress Centre Nov. 5-6, 2025.
Further Portfolio Optimization at Emerald
The acquisition comes as Emerald remains focused on its strategic goal to grow through acquisitions in high-growth markets, and marks the fourth acquisition for the organization this year.
“The kitchen and bath sector presents a strong opportunity for long-term growth, with Canada representing an important part of that opportunity,” Pagel said. “With KBC Expo now powered by the KBIS brand and our partnership with NKBA, we’re building the infrastructure for sustainable growth:
- A highly curated event experience
- A trusted platform for product discovery and education
- A valuable channel for brands looking to grow their presence in Canada
“We expect KBC Expo to expand in size, influence, and value — attracting more leading brands, drawing in regional and international buyers, and becoming a must-attend destination for the Canadian design and construction community.”
The organization is reaping the benefits of its overall strategy as demonstrated by its positive Q1 2025 filings from May.
TSE previously reported that Emerald posted first-quarter revenues of $147.7 million, up 10.7% year-over-year, driven by organic growth and strategic acquisitions. Organic revenues rose to $139.2 million, a 5.6% increase from the same period last year. Net income jumped to $15.3 million, up from $11.0 million in Q1 2024.
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