Alstons taking bigger share of sofa market in 2018
Sofa maker Alstons Upholstery built on mid single-digit sales gains last year with even higher growth in the first half of 2018, according to new figures from its Far East owner.

The Colchester manufacturer booked revenue of 732 million Thai baht (£17.4m) in the six months to end June, an increase of 9.4 percent* on the first six months of 2017.

The figures are disclosed in new interim accounts for Thailand's TCM Corp, which has owned a majority stake in the Colchester business since 2015.

Growth was stronger in the first quarter, but still advanced 8.3 percent in the second — the three months to end June — reaching 338.6 million baht (£8.1m).

The Essex company is building on 4.0 percent sterling sales growth to £29.7 million for 2017, already well ahead of a declining UK upholstery market.

DM Midlands, the group behind the Ashley Manor and Alexander & James businesses, is also owned by TCM, though it is held separately. It too grew sales in the first six months of 2018 (see related).

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