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.

Gallery Direct has expanded its home accents business with the acquisition of Art Marketing, a wall art, clocks and photo frames supplier. The Kent company has also announced a management reorganisation that will see md Peter Delaney take on a new brief.

The owner of contemporary sofa maker Roger Lewis is overseeing the distribution of The Conran Shop’s exclusive in-house designs to the U.K. commercial market after it formed a strategic alliance with the high-end design retailer.

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.

National soft furnishings, lighting and home accents brand Julian Charles Home has laid down a marker in a profitable first full year since a private equity backed buyout.

Bedroom furniture manufacturer Home Decor has seen its liabilities slashed thanks to a loan waiver from its longtime private equity backer.

First quarter U.K. and Ireland revenue declined in line with the global trend for Stressless brand owner Ekornes in the three months to end March.

U.K. kitchen giant Wren has expanded its showroom network in North America as it looks to build on major investment in manufacturing in the U.S. market.

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.

The longtime private equity backer of Brintons says it has successfully negotiated revised debt covenants with the banking syndicate that lends to the group, shoring up the historic carpet maker's finances.

Pooky, the lighting brand created by one of the co-founders of Sofa.com, is opening its first retail showroom in the North of England and its third overall.

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.

Profits declined at one of China's largest diversified furniture manufacturers last year as rising costs chewed away some of the benefits of double-digit revenue growth.

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.

Fabrics and wallcoverings supplier Sanderson Design Group shrugged off the impact of flat sales and rising input costs to find profit growth in the year to January 31, 2023.

Furniture and home furnishings industry news headlines in brief.

Flooring group Victoria says the laying off of hundreds of workers at Balta plants in Belgium and the shift of production to factories here and in Turkey will deliver synergy gains of no less than €15 million per year.

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.

The group behind prestige Italian furniture brands including Gervasoni, Gamma Arredamenti and Meridiani is planning to raise acquisition capital with an initial public offering (IPO) on Milan's Euronext exchange.

Seven companies from the across the U.K. furnishings sector claimed King's Awards for Enterprise, including two for the Harrison Spinks beds, components and fillings group in Leeds.

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.

The multi-million pound launch of Strandfoam U.K. into the British market has driven down prices in the foam supply sector and disrupted the status quo, according to its owner.

A multi-showroom London floorcoverings company has put creditors on alert after it filed a notice of intent to appoint an administrator (NOI).

Imports of foam and sprung mattress imports into the U.K. increased on the back of shipments from China almost doubling compared with the same period last year.

Sleep Expo Europe, a new exhibition and conference for the European mattress, bedding and sleep tech industries, is to take place in the Netherlands in just over a year from now.

Imports from India and Vietnam halved in February to send overall timber living, dining and bedroom furniture shipments down by a quarter compared with last year.

The family of one of the great-grandsons of the founder of fabrics group Romo has bought out another great-grandson and his family in a transaction that concentrates ownership of the circa £100 million business.

Cheaper shipping costs failed to prevent an eighth straight slide in upholstery import volumes in the first quarter with all three major source nations sending less product to the U.K.

The value of carpet imports into the U.K. was flat in February as higher prices compensated for a double-digit decline in volumes.

Natuzzi recorded a net loss in the final quarter of 2022 citing higher interest rates as having increased borrowing costs as well as impacting consumer demand around the world.

The family investment group that acquired half of Emma Sleep at the start of the pandemic increased the size of its holding in the direct-to-consumer and wholesale mattress business last year.

Revenue advanced for mattress ticking conglomerate BekaertDeslee last year on the back of the pass-through of higher input costs, and a major acquisition.

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.

A North West mattress and comfort seating products supplier became a minority shareholder in direct-to-consumer beds and sleep products business Brook and Wilde [Brook + Wilde] last year in what both parties have described as a strategic partnership.

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Keith Wilson, who was instrumental in the buildout of La-Z-Boy's U.K. expansion including the takeover of Colne sofa maker Furnico, is to retire.

Heritage carpet industry supplier Bonar Yarns has been placed into administration but restructuring advisors say they remain hopeful of finding a buyer for the business as a going concern.

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 number of furniture, furnishings and floorcoverings companies filing for insolvency reached record high levels in the first quarter of 2023.

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.

Flooring wholesaler Likewise Group has taken possession of its 47,000sqft high bay distribution centre in Glasgow ahead of it becoming fully operational later this spring.

Restructuring advisors handling the insolvency of Kettle Interiors U.K. have enlisted agents to sell a substantial quantity of cabinet furniture that was not included as part of the asset sale agreement with newco Kettle Home.

Rising costs countered higher sales for upholstery and drapery fabrics supplier Warwick last year while cash declined after a large share buyback.

The Chinese upholstery manufacturer that a decade ago owned and ran a British furniture retail chain has posted weaker profits as a result of a reduction in output across its diversified activities.

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.

The buildout of the Soho Home retail and wholesale brand in the U.K. saw it rack up a large seven-figure profits turnaround as activity ramped up through the pandemic period.

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.

The managed wind down at South Yorkshire ready-to-assemble cabinet manufacturer Addspace Furniture has had knock-on effects for a co-controlled ecommerce retailer.

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.

A seven-figure vendor of mattresses, divans, headboards and bed sets on the Amazon marketplace platform has a new shareholder following ownership adjustments.

A South East floorcoverings supplier filed a second notice of intent to appoint an administrator on Tuesday as stakeholders closed in on an apparent restructure.

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.

Board change comes as planned following a management buyout two years ago.

Harrison Spinks Beds is upgrading its U.S. stock programme with a Los Angeles distribution centre leased in partnership with logistics specialist Rhenus Group. The move will help it drastically cut lead times.

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

The value of case goods imported into the U.K. fell to its lowest level in 18 months at the beginning of 2023 after overstocked distributors and retailers put the brakes on orders last autumn.

Foam and sprung mattress imports into the U.K. fell high single-digits in January as a result a weaker figures from all three of the habitually largest origin countries.

Upholstered furniture imports cratered at the start of 2023, reflecting a combination of weak demand in the autumn when orders were placed, along with full warehouses across the U.K.

Naturalmat, the Devon manufacturer and retailer of mattresses and bedding made from organic materials, maintained profitable momentum last year as it invested online and in people.

Shareholder equity at mattress company Dormeo U.K. was wiped out through the second part of the pandemic ahead of its business and assets being sold to a supplier for £800,000 last month.

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.

A North West flooring and wall tile company has folded with seven-figure debts after a late 2020 company voluntary arrangement (CVA) agreement with creditors failed to complete.

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.

A Walthamstow flooring company has folded leaving more than a dozen carpet, wood and vinyl suppliers owed five-and-six-figure sums.

Major direct-to-consumer mattress business Dormeo U.K. has traded continuously through an insolvent restructure after a diversified international bed industry supplier came to its rescue.

Mattress and bedding manufacturer Duvalay has expanded into the baby sector after buying cot mattress specialist Nursery Connections out of administration.

The Furniture & Home Improvement Ombudsman, (FHIO) has appointed four new new members to its Standards Board including key officials from major retailer DFS, Tapi Carpets & Floors, and B&Q.

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.

Insolvency practitioners at the London and Manchester offices of Mazars are handling the insolvency of Dormeo U.K., the circa £40 million mattress company placed into administration last week.

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).

Rising input costs countered an improvement in underlying demand at the U.K. upholstery factory acquired by U.S. furniture giant La-Z-Boy in the first financial period since its autumn 2021 buyout.

Consumers who bought sofas sold by Mark Harris Furniture that do not comply with U.K. flammability regulations are to be contacted directly by restructuring advisors after the company was placed into administration last week.

Darren Baird and Joseph Baggott have joined upholstered furniture manufacturer Ashwood Designs as operations director and finance director respectively.

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.

Martin Peace, an until-now near constant presence at major carpet supplier Abingdon Flooring in the decades before and after it became part of the Victoria group, has retired.

The Chinese conglomerate behind the Mlily mattress and bedding brand says it was profitable again in 2022 thanks to manufacturing efficiencies and an improved situation in Europe following the pandemic.

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

Mattress supplier Dormeo U.K. is on the verge of completing a restructuring process after it filed a notice of intent to appoint an administrator (NOI) late last week.

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.

Mohawk Industries, the world's largest floorcoverings supplier, said all of its European flooring categories experienced significant volume declines in the fourth quarter as customers cut back spending.

The value of foam and sprung mattress imports into the U.K. was close to flat in December after an increase in the value and volume of goods crossing the Irish Sea compensated for weakness elsewhere.

The value and volume of Chinese sofa shipments to the U.K. declined at the end of the year as buyers continued to turn to alternative manufacturing sources closer to home.

U.K. importers bought 12 million sqm of carpets and rugs into the country in December as volume growth returned after four straight year-on-year declines.

Kent bed maker Sleepeezee has diversified its product roster with the launch of a premium-pitched bedding line in partnership with Sleepsense International, the sleep accessories company.

James Keen, the chief executive of Hypnos Beds, has been elected to the board of the British Furniture Manufacturers (BFM), the trade association representing the interests of furniture makers.

Restructuring advisors have detailed the terms of an asset-only deal for the £52.5 million turnover business that sold Sleepdown branded bedding in the U.K. on retail marketplaces such as Amazon.

The majority of the shares in XDP, one of the go-to providers for U.K. retailers selling flatpack furniture kits and other small parcel deliveries, have passed to the next generation.

JYSK has fired up a new partnership with online logistics marketplace AnyVan designed to boost its customers' ability to get big-ticket items delivered to their homes in as little as 24 hours.

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.

A regional logistics company offering services including white-glove two-man furniture deliveries has been placed into the hands of restructuring advisors.

Fabrics supplier Blendworth International more than doubled its turnover through Covid after pivoting to making personal protective equipment (PPE) for the NHS. But the abrupt termination of a five-year contract started a spiral towards insolvency.

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.

Flooring conglomerate Karndean has acquired Dutch Luxury vinyl tile (LVT) contemporary mFLOR International in a deal that bolsters its presence in mainland Europe.

Organisers have launched the pre-registration process for this year's London Fabric Show, which takes place at the ILEC Conference Centre, Earls Court on February 28 and March 1.

The closure of a 13-store kitchens vertical late last year has left its South Yorkshire owner with little prospect of recovering a seven-figure debt that was a hangover from its takeover nearly seven years ago.

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.

Industry-wide supply chain issues resulted in operational challenges and a downturn in margin as profits tumbled for upholstered furniture supplier La-Z-Boy U.K. last year.

Staffordshire floorcoverings group Brookvale grew profits last year as revenue climbed by nearly a third across its regional distribution network.

Direct-to-consumer and wholesale upholstery brand Sofacompany booked high profits despite margins taking a knock from the after-effects of Covid last year.

Ecommerce furniture retailer Swoon Editions is free of secured debt after it discharged in full its obligations to an invoice finance provider that provided funding after a restructuring over three years ago.

The wholly-owned U.K. store network of high-end French furniture company Roche Bobois delivered faster revenue growth than any other of its major global markets 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.

The three largest regional distributors of a Staffordshire based floorcoverings and flooring supplies wholesale group operating across England, Scotland and Wales all delivered big growth last year.

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.

Furniture group Actona has revealed it paid well above book value for the takeovers of European sofa producers SITS and Theca last year in deals that made it one of the world's largest upholstery producers.

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.

Turnaround firm Antony Batty & Company lined up as a potential restructuring advisor at small cabinet producer.

Jim Gerety is to retire as managing director at Vispring, the Devon bed manufacturer has announced. Operations director Chris Harrison is also retiring.

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).



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