Narrower gross margin and lower output saw furniture importer and wholesaler Annaghmore Agencies record a loss last year against a backdrop of challenging conditions.

The Swedish investment company that acquired Julian Bowen in 2021 collected bumper dividends from the wholesaler last year, as it delivered profits that remained class-leading albeit down on a pro-rata basis.

U.K. factory gate furniture turnover declined at its sharpest rate in 29 months in July but the Office for National Statistic (ONS) says the previous three months were not as bad as originally reported.

Post-pandemic revenue recovered for the U.K. arm of high-end Italian furniture maker Poltrona Frau but higher costs weighed on the bottom line.

Bluebone Imports worked down stock levels and rebuilt its balance sheet though 2022/23 ahead of it bringing back a popular brand to the U.K. market this autumn.

Panther Logistics' revenue passed nine figures for the first time last year as the warehousing and two-person delivery company profitably onboarded a series of new customers.

Alessi, the Italian designer homeware company, saw revenue drop back at its wholly-owned U.K. operation in 2022. Sales still remained ahead of the preceding seven years.


Turnover was down 12 percent to £4.26 million at Alessi (U.K). in the 12 months to December 31, 2022, with the business unit delivering profits down 5.7 percent to £78,693.

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Alessi (U.K) revenue: 2013–2022 (£m)


Alessi uk sales550

The Italian company's products are sold via its own channels as well as through third parties spanning department store retailer John Lewis to design retailers including Heal's and SCP.


Net assets for the U.K. subsidiary increased to £1.12 million (2021: £1.05m), which largely reflects £1.3 million of historic shareholder equity funding.

Sean Holt has been named managing director of Commercial Interiors U.K. (CIUK), the trade association representing the contract furniture and furnishings sectors.

The U.S. ready-to-assemble cabinet maker that owns brands including Eden Bridge Designs says it plans to cease operations at its dedicated U.K. subsidiary company.

West Midlands importer and wholesaler Heartlands Furniture built inventory to never-before seen levels last year amid industry-wide stock accumulation.

A freight forwarder later named one of the largest unsecured creditors of Kettle Interiors U.K. had become its landlord three months before the furniture wholesaler's insolvent restructure earlier this year.

Wallpaper company Graham & Brown has begun a consultation with employees after proposing to close a manufacturing facility in Blackburn, the Lancashire town where it was founded in 1946.

U.K. furniture manufacturers' turnover declined for the fourth month in the past five in June and at its steepest rate since the start of 2021.

Higher sales, business model adjustments and restructuring helped Furniture Wholesale Group reverse the effects of the most challenging year in its history.

Sanderson Design Group has cut costs after the multi-faceted fabrics and furnishings supplier took steps to streamline its U.K. support function.

Lower demand for U.K. made goods from Ireland, particularly mattresses, hit furniture exports ahead of the summer, according to new data. Upholstery exports held up stronger.

A company voluntary arrangement (CVA) has lightened the debt burden for a South London based interior design company after it accumulated six-figure tax liabilities.

A container haulage company with depots across the East of England was placed into administration on Friday after a financial creditor called in its debt.

Imports of wood living, dining and bedroom cabinet furniture declined for a sixth straight month by value in May on weak data from the Far East.

Profit growth returned for the U.K. dropshipping company behind the Artisan Furniture and PD Global brands in the past year.

High-end Italian furniture company Calligaris has recapitalised a U.K. subsidiary in a move that, all other things being equal, repairs its balance sheet.

Kitchenware supplier Sabichi Homewares claimed market share gains last year but higher costs meant profits declined.

Belgian furniture supplier Ethnicraft is to make an $18 million (£14m) investment in its U.S. operation by building a new North Carolina facility that will expand and consolidate capacity.

The increasingly crowded and competitive logistics landscape contributed to the collapse of delivery company Tuffnells, whose furniture and mattress industry customers made up as much as a third of its business.

Furniture wholesaler Lassic chalked up lower profits in 2021/22 as the Bradford company absorbed rising costs from freight and its supply chain.

Coach House wants to build a new high-bay storage facility at the site of its Altham headquarters as part of plans to expand the capacity of its furniture, home and gift wholesale business.

The rescue of the West Midlands furniture wholesaler Serene earlier this year saved 35 jobs but compromised the debts owed to creditors including HMRC and suppliers.

Year-on-year furniture turnover at the factory gate declined for the second straight month in May according to figures out Thursday morning from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

HMRC and the now-defunct Kettle Interiors U.K. company were the two main creditors of Kettle Interiors Agencies, which was placed into insolvency shortly after its larger associate.

Bradford rugs and homewares supplier Melrose Interiors found trade more challenging last year ahead of its sale to the U.K.'s largest floorcoverings distributor.

Gary Lasham and David Meltham have made quick returns to the industry after leaving Belfield Group, with the pair taking non-exec posts at contract furniture maker Barons as part of an MBO led by its hitherto sales director.

Furniture import and wholesale company Bentley Designs (U.K.) maintained profits last year as exchange gains helped counter the impact of lower sales and the inflationary trading environment.

IKEA's largest two-person delivery partner is to invest £3 million in new electric vehicles to be used exclusively as part of its logistics partnership with the home and garden retail giant.

North West bedding supplier Comfy Quilts found top and bottom line growth in the year to January 31, 2023 despite lower sales to a significant related party customer.

Bedding giant Comfy Quilts has invested heavily in new production assets in the past year during a period in which the company returned to earnings growth.

Cleland McIver more than doubled profits last year as it benefitted from growth at retail giant Dunelm and its earlier investment in building distribution capacity.

The Yorkshire group behind the LPD Furniture business has agreed amended banking facilities following a covenant breach last year, during which it invested heavily in building stock.

Profits tumbled for class-leading furniture and giftware wholesaler Coach House last year after rising sales costs resulted in a double-digit percentage point narrowing in gross margin.

The company behind The Online Furniture Show has launched Clearance Furniture — a new trade-only website that aims to connect retailers with wholesalers looking to clear excess stock.

Profits almost halved at North West furniture maker Dams last year as narrower gross margin countered higher output.

Coach House, the £64 million furniture, interiors and giftware wholesaler, has expanded its footprint in London with the opening of a new, larger trade showroom in Chelsea.

U.K. furniture manufacturers' turnover fell on a year-on-year basis for only the second time in 26 months in April, according to new Office for National Statistics (ONS) data.

Furniture distributor Global Home Group has reduced prices across a further half dozen ranges including four Corndell collections as it encourages retailers to "aggressively promote" its products.

Consumers awaiting furniture and mattresses from customers of delivery giant Tuffnells face potential delays after the freight specialist was formally placed into the hands of restructuring advisors on Monday.

The cost of restructuring the furniture wholesale company Kettle Interiors U.K. could swallow up a seven-figure chunk of the hoped-for realisations from the sale of its assets to an entity under common control.

A fifth of the furniture wholesale company Julian Bowen remains in the hands of either management or the founding family following the death of the company's eponymous founder last year.

Industry trade association British Furniture Manufacturers (BFM) has appointed Joanna Privett as its membership engagement manager.

Restructuring advisors handling the insolvency of Kettle Interiors U.K. say legal action may be necessary to facilitate the collection of a portion of the furniture wholesale company's debtor book.

Kettle Home agreed to buy stock with a book value of £6 million off furniture wholesaler Kettle Interiors U.K. for well under half that amount on March 22, 2023, two days before the latter was placed into administration.

U.K. tax authorities face the biggest shortfall from the fallout of the restructuring of the Kettle Interiors U.K. furniture wholesale operation earlier this year, despite being near the front of the queue for a payout.

Shares in the Chinese furniture group that acquired Norwegian furniture giant Ekornes back in 2018 have fallen to their lowest level since an IPO nearly a decade ago.

Corporate reorganisation follows spring 2022 takeover by Norwegian furniture conglomerate.

Two unrelated privately-owned kitchen companies with combined sales north of £30 million were placed into administration within days of each other in the past fortnight.

Major furniture supplier Global Home Group has written to retailers outlining price cuts across a number of its established cabinet collections, following through on a promise made last year.

High-end furniture roll-up Italian Design Brands launched its Initial Public Offering (IPO) on Thursday, raising €70 million from the issue of new shares in the company.

A £7.4 million rise in revenue failed to lift profits at a London based contract furniture provider as it grappled with rising shipping and product costs through 2021/22.

Higher prices and the completion of winter sales orders kept U.K. furniture factories busy as turnover at the factory gate reached an all-time high landmark in March.

Export sales jumped by a quarter to help South Wales furniture maker Bisley continue its recovery from the impact of Covid disruption through 2021/22.

Restructuring advisors trying to recoup funds for the estate of an insolvent cabinet furniture retail business could result in a non-trading property company being placed into administration.

The former owner of the Conran & Partners interior design and architecture practice has disclosed the terms of the sale of the business to its management team for the first time.

Kellars expects to grow by a fifth in its current financial period after the the first full year impact of its depots in Glasgow and Rugby helped boost its national profile last year.

Stronger gross margin helped protect profitability for Ireland, Northern Ireland and Scotland wholesaler Flanagan Flooring last year amid rising costs and lower revenue.

Phil Spademan has been appointed managing director of trade association British Furniture Manufacturers (BFM), replacing Sean Holt who has left after fewer than 18 months in the role.

Wincanton has made what it described as a multi-million pound investment in electric vehicle technology to provide home delivery services for IKEA, the U.K.'s largest home furnishings retailer.

Norfolk Leisure Lifestyle, a supplier of garden furniture and other outdoor goods that has more than doubled sales through the pandemic, built inventory to new record high levels ahead of the 2022/23 season.

Profits declined sharply at Elstead Lighting last year as narrower gross margin and rising administrative costs countered the positive impact of sales growth, particularly in export markets.

Ercol Furniture (ercol) is launching two of its best-loved designs in British ash with the Princes Risborough manufacturer saying it wants its backing for home-grown timber to be an example for the industry.

Rob Freeman and Kirstie McIntosh have been promoted to new roles at Frank Olsen Furniture, the supplier of living room, AV and bedroom cabinets featuring integrated tech such as wireless charging and voice-controlled lighting.

Higher sales to the residential and hospitality markets along with an uplift in demand from U.K. interior designers serving customers in the Middle East boosted a top-end rug distributor last year.

South Wales home office and workplace furniture manufacturer Bisley has announced the death of its owner and chairman Anthony Brown at the age of 86.

The owners of a Birmingham bedding company have completed a buyout of Serene Beds and Furniture in a deal that secures the future of the West Bromwich wholesaler.

One-off costs settling a Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) price probe hit profits at the group behind Oxfordshire supplier Där Lighting last year.

Restructuring advisors say they accepted the offer from newco Kettle Home for the assets of Kettle Interiors U.K. only yesterday (Mar. 29, 2023) after what it described as an open marketing process that attracted significant interest from here and abroad.

Sanderson Design Group has agreed a licensing agreement with J Sainsbury that will see the supermarket group's Habitat brand develop a wide range of products in collaboration with the Morris & Co. and Scion brands.

Newly-formed company Kettle Home is the new owner of assets including intellectual property and inventory after wholesaler Kettle Interiors U.K. was placed into administration last Friday.

Living, dining and bedroom furniture supplier Teemo has appointed former Made.com general manager Kevin Guillaume as chief operations officer Southeast Asia.

Furniture wholesaler Kettle Interiors U.K. has been placed into administration with all 126 of its employees made redundant, restructuring advisors have confirmed.

A court has handed West Midlands cabinet, mattress and bedframe importer and wholesaler Serene Beds and Furniture another ten days to reorganise its affairs.

Stakeholders in wholesaler Kettle Interiors U.K. are working to complete a restructuring process that will secure the future of the Corby based furniture supplier.

The U.K. subsidiary of Swiss-owned upmarket outdoor furniture brand Gloster maintained high six-figure profits in the year to December 31, 2022, new accounts reveal.

Sanderson Design Group says it is committed to protecting its interests ahead of a hearing next month regarding an intellectual property dispute with Waltham Forest Council.

The near-term future of West Midlands beds and cabinet furniture distributor Serene Beds and Furniture is uncertain after a court filing on Monday.

British furniture manufacturers made a positive start to 2023 with output climbing compared with January last year. December figures have also been revised upwards.

Pine and hardwood cabinet furniture distributor Devonshire remained profitable through 2021/22 as wider gross margin helped mitigate lower output.

Britain's largest flooring wholesaler says it wants to grow its business with larger retail and trade customers by more than £100 million over the next five years.

The shutdown of the U.K. arm of Sweden-headquartered furniture brand Rowico is entering its final stages as restructuring advisors clear the last of its remaining inventory.

East Midlands furniture importer and distributor Birlea has introduced a new price list with reductions of an average 11 percent across its entire product roster.

Shipping pressures and dealing with the aftermath of the pandemic meant last year was the most challenging yet, according to bedroom furniture and upholstery distributor Furniture Wholesale Group (FWG).

The Vita Group says it has doubled staff headcount and increased production four-fold at the foam manufacturing plant it acquired from sofa maker Natuzzi in the two years since the takeover was announced.

Retail giant Next and Sanderson Design Group (SDG) have agreed a licensing tie-up for the latter's Clarke & Clarke brand that will see its product range diversify into new categories including furniture.

A West Midlands interior design company that created interiors for show homes across new-build developments has folded leaving a large tax liability.

Exports of core furniture categories including upholstery, beds and cabinets reached all-time high levels in 2022, breaking a record that had stood for the past four years.

U.K. furniture makers' turnover declined on an annual basis for the first time in almost two years in December as weak demand through the autumn impacted production at the end of the year.

Alan Sweeney has stepped down as Alfrank Designs CEO after almost 17 years to launch a new agency and sourcing business with one of Ireland's leading furniture buyers. He will continue to work with the dining and occasional furniture supplier on a part-time basis.

Restructuring advisors handling the insolvency of the U.K. arm of bedroom and dining resource Rowico say they are clearing inventory following their appointment last month.

The U.K. future of international bedroom and dining furniture resource Rowico is unclear after its wholly-owned business unit here was placed into the hands of restructuring advisors late last month.

Profits left in the company advanced again for Northern Ireland based dining furniture wholesaler World Furniture (NI) last year as the supplier continued to build value.

Decorative lighting supplier Searchlight Electric built stock levels and maintained healthy cash reserves on new borrowing last year against a difficult trading backdrop.

Weaker-than-expected sales and higher costs impacted pro-rata trading profits at the trade and direct home shopping bedding, home textiles and soft furnishings supplier Rapport Home last year.

The principal U.K. arm of global office furniture manufacturing giant Herman Miller booked smaller profits here last year as higher staffing and material costs outweighed the impact of rising sales.

Contemporary housewares supplier Joseph Joseph Group booked record sales last year as its international business gained further traction.

Factory gate furniture price inflation climbed at the end of last year though raw material and input cost data augurs more promisingly, with that rate falling to its shallowest level since the spring of 2021.

Revenue climbed by more than a third at British homewares and lifestyle brand Sophie Allport ahead of it appointing a new CEO to elevate the business to another level.

The reopening of the hospitality industry boosted textiles manufacturer and distributor Richard Haworth, one of the largest U.K. suppliers of filled bedding and soft furnishings to the sector.

High value lighting, furniture and accents supplier Porta Romana booked adjusted profits of £4.1 million in the year to April 30, 2022 on all-time high revenue.

A South West based logistics company whose services include two-man white glove delivery on behalf of big-ticket customers has filed a notice of intent to appoint an administrator (NOI).

Import volumes of wood living, dining and bedroom cabinet furniture have now trended lower in every month since March last year, according to new figures.

Indian Ocean founder Jamie Hobbs is stepping down as managing director to focus on design and strategy. The high-end outdoor furniture company has appointed commercial director David Mahony to be his successor.

U.K. furniture manufacturing turnover rose at below-inflation levels for a third straight month in November according to data out Friday morning.

Likewise Group will add further infrastructure in the first half of this year with new distribution facilities in the South East of England and Scotland.

The md of Ercol Furniture [ercol] says the Buckinghamshire manufacturer remains focused on further building U.K. production after it returned to profit in 2021 and maintained that level last year.

Birlea Furniture says the first Disney furniture and home ranges since it agreed an exclusive U.K. and Ireland distribution deal are due to be in stock early February.

Furniture wholesaler Julian Bowen has appointed Jason Hillier to cover sales in London and the South East of England.

Living, dining and bedroom wholesaler Balmoral Furniture booked higher profits last year as revenue increased and margin widened as a result of fewer restrictions.

Revenue climbed by more than half for North East living, dining and bedroom cabinet distributor Baker Furniture through 2021/22 as it yielded the early benefit of its new distribution centre.

The outlook for foam availability and pricing will be pegged to three main pillars through 2023, according to the trade association representing suppliers of polyurethane slabstocks used by the mattress and upholstery industry.

Fabrics group Panaz said the decision to diversify its existing supply chain led to more flexibility on cost and helped to shield it from geopolitical risk.

Major U.K. lighting supplier Cascade says its target for the year ahead is liquidity rather than profit after a period in which it encountered cost headwinds.

Designer Contracts, the £41 million supplier to the U.K. new build interiors sector, says it has improved and simplified its furniture and lighting packs for customers looking for turnkey solutions.

Furniture wholesale group Seconique built year-end stock levels by more than £8.5 million in a trading period pockmarked by supply chain challenges.

The start of the final quarter saw living, dining and bedroom cabinet shipments climb for the first time in four months as U.K. buyers found alternatives to China.

British furniture makers' turnover growth accelerated at the start of the fourth quarter despite the uplift in exports being the weakest since February 2021.

Vida Living, one of the largest suppliers of furniture to the U.K. market, found big sales growth last year but profits declined as rising input costs meant gross margin narrowed.

The private equity backed group that owns custom fitted furniture maker Neville Johnson paid eight-figure dividends to shareholders in a period when it agreed extended borrowing and saw trading profits fall.

The value of U.K. furniture exports has jumped by more than £200 million so far this year thanks to increased activity with major trading partners including the U.S., Ireland and France.

Profits fell sharply at Gwynedd cabinet maker Welcome Furniture in the past year as strategic partnerships with online retailers failed to fully mitigate a tough contract market.

United Furniture Industries, the company behind Lane, one of the most storied furniture brands in the U.S., has closed down without warning, putting thousands of jobs at risk.

Furnishing fabrics and wallpaper supplier Osborne & Little repaid almost £3 million of debt and doubled group profits through 2021/22 as it kept a lid on costs as custom returned.

Greenapple Systems, which was at the vanguard of the supply of glass furniture into the U.K. retail market, has completed a solvent shutdown of the business following a decision to close made last year.

ScanCom International, the Scandinavian outdoor furniture manufacturer with offices in countries including the U.K., found profit growth despite production challenges in the past year.

Fewer containers of living, dining and bedroom cabinet furniture arrived in the U.K. at the end of the first quarter including a halving in the quantity of goods shipped from China.

Designer furniture maker Carl Hansen & Søn has begun a consultation with factory workers in its homeland ahead of planned redundancies as it adjusts to weaker consumer demand.

Two key supply chain partners to the U.K. furniture industry relied on new business wins for growth as they called out weaker trading conditions in big-ticket categories.

Profits almost trebled for North West supplier Hill's Panel Products through 2021/22 as the key supplier to the fitted furniture sector negotiated upstream challenges.

U.K. furniture production volumes declined at the end of the third quarter as manufacturers grappled weaker order books amid rising costs.

Furniture conglomerate Actona Group says it has given the vast showroom at its Danish headquarters an extreme makeover as part of plans to make every visit by trade customers an experience.

A survey of leading British furniture manufacturers has laid bare the impact of rising production costs on their businesses, with many now struggling to turn a profit.

Furniture wholesaler Kettle Interiors has paid tribute to its founder John Kettle, who died Saturday, November 5, aged 73.

Panaz Holdings has promoted Nadeem Memon to group chief financial officer with responsibility for the fabrics and furnishings group's expanding roster of business units.

The owner of home and giftware importer Lesser & Pavey found big revenue growth in the past year but underlying profits were hit by skinnier margins.

Restructuring advisors say multi-million pound filled bedding supplier Norfolk Feather is yet to formally enter insolvency despite the reported closure of its business earlier this month.

Cabinet and upholstery supplier Mark Webster Designs sold the vast majority of its stock to its largest customer two weeks ahead of the formal appointment of administrators as it sought a managed wind down of the business.

Filled bedding company Trendsetter Home Furnishings built on a return to profit with an eight-fold rise in earnings in the past year, but cautioned of headwinds in the period since.

Higher costs saw profits almost halve for bedding supplier Comfy Quilts in the year to end January despite sales having climbed thanks to it doing more business with a company under common control.

Actona Group found top line gains as the Danish furniture conglomerate expanded its global activities through acquisitions in 2021/22.

Renewed upstream supply chain price pressures will result in further rises being passed on to retailers, as new inflation figures out Wednesday showed continued stubbornly high rates across the industry.

Upmarket interior design and furnishings supplier Sanderson Design Group found profit growth in the first half of its 2022/23 financial year after almost doubling licensing income.

Headlam Group, the U.K.'s largest floorcoverings wholesaler, has bolstered its leadership team with two new independent non-executive board hires.

Furniture, mattresses and home accents distributor Gallery Direct pumped cash into stock build last year in a period where it returned to profit on vastly increased output.

U.K. listed textiles group says part of its German-based operations has struggled as a result of weak consumer confidence.



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