The owner of adjustable beds and riser chair maker Sitting Pretty had its business recapitalised last year in a transaction that vaporised £11 million of debt.

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

A Somerset based group whose activities span mattress production to the sale of bedroom cabinet furniture via online marketplaces booked a loss last year after sterling dropped in the aftermath of "the disastrous mini-Budget."

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.

The group behind North West manufacturer and flooring insurance claims handler Cavalier Carpets found earnings growth last year despite lower revenue.

Flooring distributor STS says the second half of 2023 has got off to a promising start after a softer trading period stymied efforts to hit targets earlier this year.

Imports volumes across key case goods categories climbed for the first time in well over a year at the height of summer, driven largely by lower prices.

Mattress imports returned to growth in July with the product category on track for a new record high over the course of a full year despite inconsistent figures through 2023 so far.

The Furniture Makers’ Company has unveiled the logo for MyFurnitureCareer.org.uk, the new early careers website launching later this month.

Weak figures from key European source markets sent sofa imports to an eighth consecutive year-on-slide in July. Chinese imports also fell, but at a shallower rate.

Aquafil, the world's largest supplier of textile flooring yarn, is planning to close its Scottish carpet yarn facility with the expected loss of more than 30 jobs.

Carpet imports returned to negative year-on-year territory in July after a rare increase at the start of the summer proved to be just a blip.

The upstream mattress and upholstery supply chain has limited bad debt exposure following the reorganisation at the motion furniture group behind the MiBed and Hestia brands, according to new statutory filings.

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.

H.I.G. European Capital Partners (H.I.G.) has launched a takeover approach for delivery and logistics company DX (Group), one of the largest operators in U.K. furniture and beds fulfilment.

Two furniture industry organisations have teamed to launch a free service that will support furniture and furnishing businesses in closing their skills gaps and recruiting new apprentices.

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.

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.

Lancashire fitted furniture manufacturer J&J Ormerod (JJO) agreed a new multi-million credit facility last year as it continued to fund the purchase of a majority stake in the business by its employees in 2021.

Flooring giant Headlam last Wednesday completed the second of two under-the-radar summer acquisitions as the Midlands wholesale giant continues to bolster its distribution network.

The West Midlands manufacturer behind the adjustable beds and upholstery brands MiBed and Hestia has effected a second corporate restructure inside a little over a year in a move owners say will lead to lower prices.

Three well-known kitchen and tableware brands operated by a Derbyshire supplier that historically generated annual sales of close to £10 million have been rescued via an insolvent buyout.

West Yorkshire bed manufacturer Jay-be is to ramp up its international aspirations after securing a £2.5 million funding package, guaranteed by the U.K. Government's export credit agency.

Experienced kitchen industry executive Damian Sheridan has joined Wren Kitchens in a newly-created role aimed at galvanising its launch into the developer and house builder market.

Tufted and woven carpet exports from Belgium, Europe's largest carpet manufacturing nation, dropped last year as the Netherlands, its biggest rival and near-neighbour, made gains.

Foam company Orsa Foam, a key supplier of semi-finished products for both the mattress and upholstered furniture sectors, is buying out its joint venture partner.

Upholstered furniture giant Ekornes booked higher year-on-year revenue in the U.K. and Ireland in the second quarter of 2023 as it recovered from a slow start to the year.

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

The South Wales group that rescued Midlands kitchen manufacturer Mereway last week did so through a new corporate entity.

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.

BeA Group U.K. has become the second headline sponsor of Furniture Component Expo, the new trade show taking place next spring.

Restructuring advisors have been called in at Bridstock Gate, the bedding suppler that trades as Portfolio Home, after the company was hit by a downturn in trade.

Underlay supplier Ball & Young found top line growth last year saying new customers came aboard as specifiers and consumers are increasingly demanding real sustainability that goes beyond fine words and hopeful claims.

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.

A second former colleague of CEO Rachael Nevins has taken a senior C-suite post at Westbridge and Tetrad owner Belfield amid a number of structural and functional changes at the private equity backed upholstery and soft furnishings group.

Aspire Furniture, the Leeds manufacturer and distributor of beds and mattresses, has named Charlie Oulton as non-executive chair.

Half-year living, dining and bedroom cabinet imports declined by more than a third after falling in every single month of 2023 so far.

The market capitalisation of flooring conglomerate Victoria dropped by nearly £53 million on Tuesday after the company said its auditors have requested further time to complete their final audit procedures.

The value and volume of carpet imports into the U.K. advanced for the first time so far this year in June, but the improvement was not enough to eliminate the decline in first half trade.

A combination of weak demand and key stakeholders working stock levels back to historic norms meant sofa imports dropped by almost a quarter in the first half of 2023.

The value of half-year mattress imports into the U.K. have climbed on the back of above-inflation growth from Romania and Turkey, making up for weakness from other historic trading partners.

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.

The cabinet furniture manufacturing and wholesale giant behind businesses ranging from Lacquer Craft and Universal through to Legacy Classic has issued a profits warning.

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

Chinese conglomerate Aosom Ecommerce has pumped millions of pounds into its circa £200 million turnover U.K. furniture and home goods web operation as part of a recapitalisation.

Adjusted profits jumped double digit for Karndean last year as the luxury vinyl tile (LVT) floorcoverings supplier found revenue growth across world markets.

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

Carpet Recycling U.K. (CRUK) has become the sixth trade association from the furniture and furnishings sector to become a member of the British Furniture Confederation (BFC), the organisation which liaises with, and lobbies, Government on behalf of the industry.

National flooring supplier Designer Contracts has moved into larger office premises in Yorkshire to accommodate growth and future proof its operations in the area.

GNG Group has launched a mattress programme that brings benefits to the consumer market derived from its experience of supplying the National Health Service (NHS).

Stakeholders including furniture retailers, manufacturers and wholesalers are being encouraged to provide their views on a proposed new approach to the fire safety of domestic upholstered furniture and furnishings.

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.

Donna Bellingham has returned to the furniture industry after being appointed chief executive at heritage Yorkshire furniture manufacturer Shackletons.

Sales of bedding products fell sharply for mattress components company Leggett & Platt in the second quarter with the key cog in the manufacturing supply chain citing weak consumer demand.

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.

A furniture and bulky goods delivery company describing itself as the most sustainable forward-thinking two-person delivery company in the U.K. has filed for insolvency.

Flooring wholesale giant Headlam Group found more growth from white collar retail buyers than white van man fitters in the first half but still warned on profits after citing weaker than forecast residential volumes.

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

The volume and value of carpets imported into the U.K. declined for the fifth consecutive month in May after a further decline from Belgian producers.

A near year-long slide in the number of sofa units arriving at U.K. ports came to an end in May after an increase in container loads of goods arriving here from China.

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.

Stakeholders in the regional retail, wholesale and contracting company behind the Tile & Floor brand in Bath have completed an insolvent restructure that saves jobs but compromises creditors.

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

Cousins Olivier and Antoine Roset have succeeded their respective fathers Michel and Pierre Roset as co-CEOs of Ligne Roset as the high-end furniture company enters a new phase in its near 100-year long history.

Fabrics and window dressings retailer and distributor Terrys cut costs and made business model adjustments as it mitigated a market downturn in the second half of last year.

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.

U.K. furniture insolvencies plumbed new depths in the second quarter with the number of companies calling in restructuring advisors reaching record levels.

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.

Mattress, bed bases and pillows brand Tempur has extended its sponsorship of the professional Lifeplus Wahoo Cycling team for an additional year.

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.

Upholstery and furnishings fabrics exhibition Proposte is returning to its historic late spring dateline for its 2024 edition.

Giomani Designs has added outdoor furniture to its expanding roster of home retail interests with the rescue buyout of six-store multichannel retailer Moda Furnishings.

The unwind of an elevated stock position helped rug distributor Flair Flooring bolster its cash levels last year, despite recording lower profits.

Challenger indoor and outdoor furniture brand Out & Out has agreed for Panther Logistics to become its final mile delivery partner for the fulfilment of larger items.

Third-party logistics provider Wincanton has revealed it gained a contract to provide delivery services to RH, the U.S. home retailer formerly known as Restoration Hardware, following its launch here last month.

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.

Discount claims made by Emma Sleep in the U.K. did not stack up according to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), which also has concerns that certain marketing practices may breach consumer protection law.

Tempur U.K. made its first major product launch in eight years at an event in London on Thursday night attended by over 100 of the country's elite independent and multiple furniture retailers.

Acquisitive flooring retail and wholesale group Nestware Holdings has disclosed the terms of the early 2021 buyout of TradeChoice Distribution for the first time.

Profits were flat at high-end engineered and solid wood flooring supplier V4 last year as double-digit cost inflation countered rising sales.

The Symphony fitted kitchen, bedroom and bathroom furniture manufacturing group took two-year capex to nearly £50 million and expanded its staff headcount through 2022.

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.

Four companies from the U.K. furniture and home sectors have landed spots in The Sunday Times Hundred 2023, which ranks the country's fastest growing private businesses by sales.

Profits declined at Lincolnshire furniture wholesaler Classic Furniture (Binbrook) last year as thinner margins countered rising output.

Soft furnishings and household textiles supplier Ulster Weavers has pinned a 2021/22 loss on supply chain pressures including artificially high freight costs and a deteriorating exchange rate.

Delivery company DX has reached an agreement to take over 15 U.K. sites previously operated by Tuffnells, the flat-pack furniture delivery specialist that entered administration earlier this month.

Expanding flooring distributor Likewise Group said it had maintained high double-digit revenue growth in the first half of 2023 as it delivers on its strategy of increasing market share.

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.

The group behind regional carpets chain Wilsons and national ecommerce flooring brands such as Online Carpets booked lower profits last year as revenue declined.

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.

A buyer has been found for the Co. Monaghan factory of cabinet furniture manufacturer Gola Wood Works after the company succumbed to market pressures earlier this year.

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.

Upholstery fabrics supplier Mobus found profit growth last year as wider gross margin helped counter the impact of a return to pre-Covid level output.

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.

Profits declined at Designer Contracts in a year in which the flooring and furnishings supplier said its large stockholding capacity had enabled it to meet customers' requirements.

The Furniture Makers’ Company, the City of London livery company and charity for the furnishing industry, has launched a call for entries for its 60th anniversary campaign honouring 60 outstanding young people working in the furniture and furnishing industry.

The quantity of mattresses arriving in the U.K. from overseas has declined for the first time this year amid a shift to higher-priced products.

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.

The value of wood living, dining and bedroom furniture imports fell for the 13th straight month in April on continued weak trade with the Far East.

Dozens of consumers face a battle to recoup cash after the collapse of an independent carpet retailer based in the North West of England.

Upholstered furniture imports into the U.K. declined again in April on weak figures from all three of the country's largest trading partners in the category: China, Poland and Italy.

Carpet imports into the U.K. declined 15 percent by value in April with lower figures seen across all major source nations. Belgium suffered the largest fall.

Recticel's U.K. comfort foams business is now in the hands of a Midlands-based investment firm after the Belgian conglomerate closed out the sale of the rest of its global engineered foam units to Carpenter for a revised-down price.

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.

One of the U.K.'s largest independent flooring contractors that provides full nationwide coverage has put creditors on alert after it filed a notice of intent (NOI) to appoint an administrator.

A major delivery company in the flatpack furniture and roll-pack mattress sectors filed a notice of intent to appoint administrators on Friday, leaving many retailers facing uncertainty regarding last-mile fulfilment. It followed a smaller rival doing likewise a day earlier.

Closing stock levels at Bedeck reached almost double the prior five-year average as the home textiles company allocated cash to inventory building through 2021/22.

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.

A U.S. bankruptcy court has approved the Chapter 11 reorganisation plan for Serta Simmons Bedding (SSB), shunting the bed manufacturing giant further along the path to recovery.

Soft furnishings distributor Riva Home has followed its buyout of cushion maker Evans Lichfield during the pandemic with the acquisition of Glasgow fabrics producer Voyage Maison.

Mobus Fabrics has opened a distribution office in North Carolina, describing it as a strategic move designed to better serve its growing regional customer base across the residential, contract and hospitality sectors.

A tranche of Made.com stock with a book value north of £6 million has yielded a sub 1 percent return for the estate of the bust furniture retailer after a logistics firm exercised a lien over the furniture held in its warehouse.

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.

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.

Higher costs hit Buoyant Upholstery's profit margins during a period of supply chain upheaval in which the Nelson sofa maker said it managed to successfully keep disruption to customers to a minimum.

The Far East upholstery manufacturer behind the Kuka brand booked higher profits last year despite revenues coming under pressure.

Stakeholders at Keen & Able have reassessed the viability of the specialist white-glove home delivery company's operations following the loss of several large customers. A staff consultation process is underway.

The Jay-Be group booked larger profits last year as a seven-figure upwards property revaluation helped counter the effect of rising costs and supply chain challenges on the business.

Homeserve Furniture Repairs has rebranded as Emmiera Group in a transformation designed to better reflect both its values and its wide-ranging activities that transcend its core furniture repair services.

Shares in the U.K's largest floorcoverings distributor fell to their lowest level in over seven months on Thursday after it had earlier said it was taking steps to address a reduction in gross margin.

National floorcoverings distributor TradeChoice Carpet & Flooring will expand its depot network by half this year, starting with a new facility opening next month.

Corporate reorganisation follows spring 2022 takeover by Norwegian furniture conglomerate.

Third-party investors have taken a multi-million pound minority equity position in Neptune, the Wiltshire headquartered furniture design, wholesale and retail group.

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.

Import volumes of foam and sprung mattresses into the U.K. climbed for the third straight month in March, but the value of those products was lower compared with last year.

International floorcoverings supplier Victoria has moved its registered headquarters to the company's purpose-built 185,000sqft distribution and administration centre at Worcester.

A court filing has put creditors of a heritage producer and distributor of table, dining and homeware products on high alert ahead of a possible insolvent restructure.

The value and volume of upholstered furniture arriving in the U.K. from overseas declined again in March, largely as a result of weak data from China.

Losses widened at fast-expanding floorcoverings distributor Likewise Group last year despite top line gains driven by acquisition and organic growth from a larger market presence.

U.K. importers continued to buy in less carpet in March as both the value and volume of goods arriving at British ports fell again, new figures show.

The Branded Furniture Company (TBFC) agreed an extension to its furniture license with Orla Kiely ahead of new product being shown at its Open House Event this week (May 9–12, 2023).

U.K. sales jumped for mattress brand Emma Sleep according to just-filed figures that take in some of the most lucrative months of the pandemic for large players in the ecommerce home sector.



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