Geoff Baker, founder and chairman of CD (UK) Ltd that brought Corian solid surface to the UK and Ireland, has died peacefully aged 86.

He is survived by his wife, Ruth, and three children, Warren, Debbie and Gary.

His youngest child, Gary is group managing director of the company, having joined the business in 2006.

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Mr Baker, as he was referred to at work, always stressed he was merely a distributor of building products, although he was also a successful marketeer making a contribution to the world of interiors.

Originally a plumber’s merchant, running Taylor Baker with his uncle, Geoff Baker recognised the trend for stainless steel sinks, which were expensive in the UK.

He found a supplier in Sweden which could make them at a more cost-effective price and bought 50,000 units.

At the time, his uncle lamented that he’d bring down the business with such a deal. Instead, the units sold and the family business thrived.

Geoff Baker followed this success with the importation of pressed steel baths from Austria, which like the stainless steel sinks were more costly to buy in the UK.

Having been looking for a product which could be used to create an integrated basin for bathroom units, he discovered Corian solid surface on a business trip to Hong Kong in 1976.

Geoff Baker pursued the manufacturer US materials giant DuPont for a year, which led to an order for the material and established CD (UK) in March 1979.

The company became one of the world’s largest purchasers of Corian^® Solid Surface and has been a key player in creating the UK and Ireland solid surface market.

Soon after, Geoff also set up CD SA, and for several years was the driving force behind getting Corian established in France as well.

Taking responsibility for the distribution of Corian^® meant Geoff and his long-time business partner, Toni Hibbert learned about selling to specific market segments.

The business thrived as it targeted fabricators, architects, the leisure sector and healthcare providers.

Winning a DuPont competition, against other countries in Europe, for the right to run a TV advertising campaign in the 1990s meant more clients came on board.

These included some of the UK’s most prestigious retailers, restaurants and kitchen designers.

CD (UK) now employs more than 50 staff and has a network of skilled fabricators who operate across the UK and Ireland^.

But Geoff Baker didn’t stop there and he was already over 70 years old when he set up the designer cooker hood brand Air Uno, while also overseeing the Corian division in his role as chairman.

At the time of the firm’s 40^th anniversary in 2019 he said: “You either sell cheaply, or you sell top of the range. You can’t sell both.

“We only sell top of the range products. When you sell cheap products, you’re selling based on price and discounts. You’re not selling the product.

“When you’re selling an upmarket product, you’re selling the features and benefits of the product.”

Looking back on his career, Geoff was asked if he would have done anything differently. “I made lots of little mistakes. But business is made up of making mistakes and correcting them. Well, it is with me.

“I suppose I did a few good things, you could say that. It’s been a hugely enjoyable journey. Quite marvellous, really.”