The National Bed Federation (NBF) has opened entries for its 2025 Bed Industry Awards, highlighting achievements in design, innovation and retail performance across the UK and Ireland’s bed sector.

Creditors of fallen bed manufacturer Vogue Beds look almost certain to miss out on a distribution following the closure of the business earlier this spring.

The China-headquartered mattress and foam products manufacturer behind the Mlily brand reported a sharp rise in quarterly earnings as international ecommerce demand boosted revenue.

The Furniture Makers’ Company will hold its fifth annual HR conference in July, bringing together human resources professionals from across the UK furniture and furnishings sector for a programme focused on workforce resilience and development.

Swedish bed maker Hästens has written off millions of pounds owed to it by its British retail arm amid changes to the way its consumer-facing operations here are structured.

Furniture industry news in brief.

Will Cawson, one of the highest-regarded design directors in the UK upholstery sector, has joined Ashwood Designs, the South Wales sofa manufacturer.

Cabinet furniture imports rose for the seventh straight month on a year-on-year basis in March on the back of continued strength in bedroom and a return to growth for kitchens units.

Recliner giant Man Wah limited the impact of falling sales in China thanks to stronger demand in overseas markets such as Europe, where UK market leader DFS is a major customer.

A continued upturn in the value of goods arriving from China, Italy, France and Poland boosted sofa imports at the end of the first quarter.

HM Revenue & Customs has issued winding up proceedings against Dewsbury bed company Sleepworld over unpaid tax.

The National Bed Federation (NBF) has appointed three new members to its Council following its annual general meeting last week. One existing member has also been re-elected for a further term.

Earnings improved at upholstery group TCM Living in the first quarter of 2025 as margin expansion helped negate another deep slide in sales.

Carpets led improved flooring trade data in March, with imports into the UK growing faster in that segment than alternatives such as vinyl.

Profits returned at Hampshire lighting manufacturer Elstead last year as it built on a return to growth, achieved significant gross margin expansion, and lapped high one-off expenses.

Arne Hjort Knudsen, who founded major European upholstered furniture manufacturer Hjort Knudsen in 1973, died peacefully May 13, 2025 after a short illness, the company has announced.

New mattress recycling facility launched in the south of France.

The interim chief operating officer of Sofa Brands International has become interim CEO following Ian Oliver's decision to leave the upholstery group after over 20 years.

March saw a welcome upturn in factory gate output as UK furniture manufacturers delivered their fastest year-on-year turnover growth in eight months.

Finline Furniture, the family-owned Irish business with a 45-year heritage, has received the Excellence in Sustainability and Climate Action Award from the Laois Chamber of Commerce, recognising the company's commitment to sustainable practices and social impact.

Lincolnshire-based Kyoto is celebrating three decades in business as a leading UK maker and importer of futons, sofabeds, and furniture.

Margin expansion and cost savings helped limit the impact of lower output at privately-owned upholstered furniture manufacturer Leisure Furnishings last year.

Restructuring advisors at Leonard Curtis lined up to handle potential insolvency.

Peter Keen, chairman of British bed maker Hypnos, has been awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by The Furniture Makers’ Company.

A drop in the value of the upholstery market has impacted efficiencies in British sofa factories, with one key productivity measure falling sharply on the arrival of 2024 data.

Upholstery and retail industry news in brief.

The former majority owner of Mattress Firm is seeking to offload its entire stake in bedding conglomerate Somnigroup International, the group behind Tempur, Dreams, and Sealy.

The group behind West Yorkshire mattress maker Highgrove Beds booked higher profits in the year before last after a third straight year of growth and a lower tax liability.

The British subsidiary of German bedroom company Nolte Möbel has formally called in restructuring advisors, three weeks after warning creditors of its impending insolvency.

Tamarisk Designs has appointed Suzanne O’Flynn as design director, bringing over three decades of luxury interiors and textiles experience to the family-owned British furniture maker.

Dreams, the UK's largest beds retailer, maintained upwards momentum in what its American owner described as a strong first quarter.

The Carpet Foundation's Consumer Code of Practice, one of the most admired achievements by any UK furnishings trade association, will cease to exist after the industry body announced its planned permanent closure later this summer.

Shareholders in the Thai holding company that owns British upholstery group TCM Living have unanimously backed proposals designed to deleverage the diversified conglomerate.

Bensons for Beds has refreshed its entry-level Simply by Bensons brand with a new collection that replaces open coil spring units with a greater number of pocket sprung alternatives.

A North West maker of high-end furniture for residences and super-yachts was among a handful of industry companies to claim a King's Award for Enterprise in the 2025 cohort.

Mohawk Industries expects to incur $50 million in annualised costs following the rollout of US tariffs on imports, the company said as it released its first quarter results.

Victoria expects full-year revenue to top £1.11 billion as operational improvements delivered a stronger fourth quarter, the company said in a trading update on Tuesday.

Restructuring advisors say the sale of freehold property assets could yield a return for trade suppliers of Adam Carpets, the heritage Kidderminster carpet maker placed into administration in March.

The UK arm of German bedroom furniture company Nolte Möbel filed a second notice of intent to appoint administrators (NOI) on Friday, keeping creditors at bay another two weeks.

Ekornes, the Norwegian furniture maker behind the Stressless and IMG brands, grew its UK and Ireland sales in the first quarter, with revenue rising by over 25 percent compared with last year.

Highgate Beds, the West Yorkshire manufacturing company placed into liquidation earlier this month, left behind a £1.76 million deficit to creditors, according to statutory filings.

Hypnos, the British mattress manufacturer with a 120-year heritage, has secured a new asset-based lending facility from Independent Growth Finance (IGF), laying the financial groundwork for domestic and international growth.

UK manufacturers will no longer be required to affix display labels to new domestic upholstered furniture from the end of October, under amendments to long-standing fire safety regulations laid before Parliament this week.

Upholstery manufacturer Hjort Knudsen, parent to British sofa maker Michael Tyler Furniture, has appointed James Thompson to drive its international commercial expansion. The former Ekornes executive has become chief commercial officer – international, effective today (May 1, 2025).

The British Furniture Confederation (BFC) has relaunched the All Party Parliamentary Furniture Industry Group (APPFIG), appointing Labour MP Adam Thompson as chairman.

Sanderson Design Group posted a £15.2 million net loss for the year to January 31, 2025 following a downturn in UK sales and a £16.3 million impairment of goodwill linked to its Clarke & Clarke brand.

A new initiative from the British Furniture Association (BFA) is drawing HR leaders from across the UK’s home furnishings industry to share ideas on workforce challenges.

Former Leggett & Platt (L&P) executive Mike Holmes was appointed managing director for John Cotton Group's non-woven division earlier this year.

Sales jumped double-digit in the first quarter of 2025 for the upholstery giant behind the Kuka Home brand after a tougher 2024 that had been impacted by domestic market challenges.

Kitchen manufacturer Paula Rosa Manhattan (PRM) slashed its trading deficit last year on the back of double-digit sales growth and margin expansion.

Furniture, beds and flooring industry news in brief.

Bedding products sales at Leggett and Platt fell in the first quarter of 2025, driven by weaker US and European demand, the exit of a speciality foam customer, and restructuring-related sales attrition.

B.I.G. Yarns, the Belgium-based manufacturer of polyamide, polypropylene, and polyester carpet yarns, is investing €25 million upgrading its French production facility.

Steed Upholstery, the family-owned maker of high-end upholstered furniture based in Long Eaton, Derbyshire, is celebrating its 60th year in business.

The company behind the Modulax, Up2date, and Medalounger upholstered furniture brands has acquired a vast factory in mainland Europe and plans to develop its UK business in partnership with the Mynett family, who for decades represented Natuzzi.

New-to-the-UK cabinet and upholstery supplier Hooker Furnishings hopes a series of cost cuts can return the business to profit this year after a tough 2024.

The tax authorities are to lose out again after an East Midlands kitchens, bedrooms, and bathrooms cabinet company filed for insolvency earlier this month.

The Belgian textile flooring conglomerate behind the ITC carpet brand saw sales decelerate further in Europe in the first quarter as it lapped a tough comparative.

The planned rejigging of production at factories in the Far East hit Natuzzi delivered sales in the final quarter as the Italian upholstery giant repatriated some manufacturing back to its plants in Europe.

Premium beds manufacturer Enchanted House continued to gain traction in 2024, booking profits for the seventh year in a row.

Wider gross margin helped Lancashire foam and fibre interiors supplier Drury Adams cope with the impact of a softer market for its customer base of sofa and mattress makers last year.

Buoyant Upholstery says the start of this year has seen increased demand but the Lancashire sofa maker struck a cautious tone as higher employment costs come into effect.

Wrought Iron and Brass Bed Company, a Royal Warrant-holding manufacturer based in Norfolk, has launched the Traceable Wool Mattress Collection, bringing with it a direct-from-the-farm approach to wool sourcing. It is urging other makers to follow its lead.

Provisions for litigation almost doubled at Emma Sleep last year as the direct-to-consumer and wholesale mattress and bedding company set aside more money for legal disputes.

New statutory filings by the Polish upholstery manufacturer that acquired a minority stake in Sofa Club have shed more light on its investment in the British retailer.

Strong profits at Vispring meant the Plymouth beds manufacturer paid a new record-high dividend to its Spanish owner last year.

A wholly-owned UK subsidiary of German furniture maker Nolte Möbel has put creditors on alert after a court filing just before Easter.

Wood cabinet furniture shipments have risen for the sixth month in a row as importers brought in more goods from Vietnam, and the living, dining and bedroom categories in particular.

Dewsbury manufacturing company Highgate Beds has filed for insolvency and been placed into liquidation after facing a winding up threat from the tax authorities earlier this spring.

Halo, the group behind the international furniture brand Timothy Oulton, has reorganised the ownership of one of its UK upholstery manufacturing assets.

The founding family behind fitted kitchens manufacturer Symphony has sold a majority stake in the business to Belfast-based investment company W&R Barnett.

Mattress imports into the UK returned to growth in February on the back of a surge in shipments from China.

The previously-signposted issue of a new class of shares in Burgess Beds was in return for the partial forgiveness of debt, new statutory filings show.

Furniture and furnishings industry news in brief.

Another surge in Chinese sofa shipments helped prop up imports in the category in February as UK retailers and wholesalers continue to turn their back on Poland.

Batley mattress maker Apollo Beds maintained its run of recording substantial six-figure profits last year, but the gain eased for the third consecutive period.

The Government has suspended import tariffs on 89 foreign products in a move that may lead to a reduction in the price of some cabinet furniture.

Turnover at the UK furniture factory gate returned to growth in February, rising for the second month in three according to data released Friday.

Consumer reluctance to spend was apparent across all regions last year as falling sales to mattress manufacturers walked back an earlier gain for ticking supplier BekaertDeslee.

Vispring, the high-end British beds manufacturer, has now opened its new store in Milan, coinciding with the Salone del Mobile exhibition and Milan Design Week.

UK Sustainable Flooring Alliance (UKSFA), the flooring trade body formerly known as Carpet Recycling UK, has launched a new and expanded programme of awards ahead of its annual conference this summer.

Profitability weakened at Emma Sleep last year as the direct-to-consumer and wholesale mattress business booked lower revenue for the first time.

Profits climbed at the diversified manufacturing group behind the Komfi mattress brand on stronger margins and success converting customers to British-made products.

A South Wales motion upholstery manufacturer has formally changed its name to mirror that of its trading brand following its sale to a compatriot components supplier last year.

Top-of-the-market bespoke manufacturer Silverlining Furniture says its order book is positive as it looks to bounce back from a tougher trading year.

JDP Furniture Group continued to pay down debt and has kept to the terms of its company voluntary arrangement (CVA) as a result of the previously-signposted strong performance of Celebrity, its sole subsidiary.

The closure of a West Yorkshire beds and mattresses manufacturer has left its largely locally-based supply chain nursing a number of five-figure debts.

The Chinese company behind the Mlily brand is taking legal action to try and recover tens of millions of dollars it believes it is owed by one of its largest and longstanding customers.

Bed manufacturer Sleepeezee has donated over £30,000 to British Heart Foundation, part of a tie-up with the charity that goes back nearly a decade.

The CEO of Sofa Brands International (SBI) says earnings momentum has continued into the current 2024/25 financial period as it builds on improvement last year.

Losses widened at Yorkshire fitted furniture vertical Strachan last year as rising costs weighed on margins.

Dovetail Enterprises, a Dundee social enterprise that makes mattresses, bed bases and cabinet furniture, has been placed into administration.

Bed manufacturer Sealy United Kingdom saw revenue jump sharply last year as it gained market share and made inroads into its trading deficit.

The Furniture Makers' Company has announced the speaker lineup and themes for Inspiring Makers, the fourth annual not-for-profit day previously called The New Makers' Conference.

Manufacturer and wholesaler Aspire Furniture has leased a large distribution centre near its Leeds factory as it builds capacity following rapid growth.

Peak Converters and Fibreline were winners of the 2025 Future of Furniture Awards along with Ethan McGuigan of Harrison Spinks, the British Furniture Association (BFA) has announced.

Quarterly furniture, furnishings and floorcoverings insolvencies dropped to their lowest level in three years between January and March 2025.

All upholstery purchases at ScS are now carried out from Italy following the departure of one of the last-remaining buying officials from the UK chain.

Family-owned East Midlands manufacturer Vogue Beds has ceased trading and been placed into administration.

Experienced sofa industry executive Ashleigh Jane Ellis is joining Lebus Upholstery as commercial director.

Adjusted profits jumped by two thirds for Ashley Ann last year as the Scottish kitchens, bedrooms and bathroom retailer shrugged off the impact of a challenging market.

The sale of Sofas by Saxon by its founders to its employees has given the North West upholstery vertical a "stronger foundation for sustainable growth" but impacted its financial results in the near term.

Furniture industry news in brief.

West Yorkshire furniture vertical High Seat Holdings has promoted Ben Waters to chief executive officer for its HSL and LIVHOME business units.

Quick-Step brand owner Unilin has launched the "world's most advanced laminate press" in a development that increases production capacity by 25 percent and the speed at which it can manufacture.

Profits climbed for Warwick Fabrics last year on stronger gross margin and changes to the sales mix.

Industry takeover, flooring and charity news in brief.

Administrators are looking to find a buyer for the business and assets of fourth generation flooring manufacturer Adam Carpets, after the business ceased trading last week.

Restructuring advisors have fleshed out details of the previously-signposted insolvent restructure of the soft furnishings chain Julian Charles.

The British Furniture Association (BFA) says preparations for the third Furniture Component Expo (FCE) are already underway after last week's event galvanised its position as a key dateline in the supply-side calendar.

Creditors of a Birmingham-based bed manufacturer that folded in January are exploring whether they can hold a formerly co-located and still-active corporate entity responsible for the bust company's debts.

Historic carpet manufacturer Brintons says it expects the UK residential flooring market to stabilise and remain flat this year after a tough 2024.

Sofa market leader DFS has formally announced basketball icon Shaquille O'Neal as a brand ambassador, expanding on limited details released in December last year (see related).

The former director of buying at beds vertical Dreams has returned to the UK market leader as chief commercial officer after a near four-year hiatus.

New and planned hires in the furniture and upholstery sectors, and at one of the largest print services suppliers to the industry.

Headlam, the UK's largest flooring distributor, is creating a single national sales force for six of its residential product brands in a move that aims to reduce duplication and make trading with the group easier and more efficient.

Wider gross margin and the disposal of surplus property helped home and office furniture giant Bisley mitigate the impact of weaker sales last year.

Adam Carpets has said it is exploring all available alternatives to maximise returns for creditors in its first public comments since filing a notice of intent to appointment administrators just over a week ago.

Upholstery manufacturing, wholesale and retail group Halo has increased its equity position in British manufacturing.

The issue of a new class of shares has enabled the premium North West beds maker that underwent a restructuring process at the outset of the pandemic the capability to pay specific dividends to holders.

Furniture, beds and home improvement news in brief.

Year-on-year upholstered furniture imports climbed for the fourth consecutive month in January on the back of high growth from China and Italy.

An eighth straight rise in vinyl imports into the UK wasn't enough to keep all flooring imports positive in January as buyers turned away from Belgian and Turkish carpets and rugs.

Alan Scott, who died earlier this month aged 78, spent almost all his working life in the furniture and bedding industry, forging a reputation as a builder and reviver of brands.

George Joyce, sales director at pocket spring manufacturer Wolf Components, hopes to raise £7,000 for The Furniture Makers' Company by running the London Marathon.

UK distributors and retailers bought fewer foreign-made mattresses in January as the figures lapped a tough comp with a month when Tempur imports rocketed.

The privately-owned company behind bed manufacturer and retailer Naturalmat booked lower profits last year, according to just-filed accounts.

Flooring manufacturer and distributor Victoria has appointed Alec Pratt as chief financial officer. He succeeds Brian Morgan, who will step down late June.

DFS is exploring expanding the scope of its wholly-owned The Sofa Delivery Company operation by offering its services to third-party retailers outside the group.

January saw a return to negative year-on-year furniture manufacturing output while official December figures were also revised down.

A circa £6 million turnover supplier based in the heart of the UK carpet manufacturing sector has put creditors on alert after a court filing late last week.

The British Furniture Confederation (BFC), the public affairs umbrella body of furniture and beds, furnishings and flooring sector trade associations, has launched its new Plan for Growth. It will use the document to engage with all levels of Government.

Shares in DFS have ended the day 10.2 percent higher after the sofa market leader said orders had continued to rise in the early part of 2025, prompting it to uprate its earnings outlook.

Trayton Group, one of the world's largest upholstery suppliers, is launching into the UK and Ireland in partnership with the Mynett family, whose decades-long alliance with Natuzzi is over.

The group behind decorative lighting brands Där, David Hunt and J&M Parker grew earnings last year on margin expansion and lapping one-off costs.

The leaders of the National Bed Federation (NBF) and the British Furniture Association (BFA) are among three new Council members of the Furniture Industry Research Association, the not-for-profit membership-based organisation.

A beds retailer owned by a minority shareholder in manufacturer Highgate Beds has been served with a winding up petition by HM Revenue & Customs.

Upholstered furniture manufacturer Michael Tyler acquired its Sussex factory site last year with a seven-figure investment backed by its Scandinavian parent company.

Margin expansion helped Belgian textile flooring conglomerate Belysse Group return to profit last year as it shrugged off falling sales volumes.

Irish manufacturer and retailer DFI Beds is selling into the mainland UK market for the first time with a new ecommerce site and a presence on third-party platforms.

Material Choices for more Sustainable Products, the latest in a series of events by industry charity and City of London livery The Furniture Makers' Company, was a sell out, underscoring the interest in the subject across the industry.

The foam, fibre and mattress manufacturer whose majority shareholders also own Brook & Wilde found margin amid falling sales last year.

Diversified bedding components conglomerate Leggett & Platt has divested several mattress machinery businesses within its Global Systems Group division.

Diversified flooring conglomerate Forbo Group kept profit within touching distance of year-earlier levels in 2024 despite what it described as an "adverse market environment."

Upholstery group TCM Living booked a large eight-figure loss last year with most of it attributable to discontinued operations within its AMX Design business unit.

The majority shareholder in flooring conglomerate Tarkett plans to acquire the minority of shares it does not already own in a deal that values the business at €1.05 billion.

Chinese retailers have agreed to open dozens more Natuzzi-branded stores in the country after the Italian company unveiled its latest product collections during two days of brand-focused events.

Weak delivered sales in the UK and Ireland bookended the four quarters of 2024 at Stressless owner Ekornes to leave full year revenue broadly flat.

Cabinet vertical Howdens took a bigger slice of a declining kitchen market last year and has promised more of the same amid a tough outlook for 2025.

The phoenix company that rescued heritage sofa maker and retailer Delcor last autumn already owned its factory HQ by the time of the prepack buyout.



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