Silentnight Group axes furniture brands operation

Silentnight Group is planning to close its furniture brands operation, which includes the upholstery brand Parker Knoll, and is in talks with potential buyers over the future of the division.

The move does not affect group marketing director Julie Leivers, who joined the company on September 1 (MW August 26). She is based at the company’s headquarters in Lancashire and oversees the bed brands, which include Silentnight and Sealy.

The furniture brands division, which is based in Enfield, north London, also includes the Nathan, Stag and Ducal brands. The division has been restructured over the past two years but failed to boost its sales. The Parker Knoll brand was talking to advertising agencies earlier in the year as part of this strategy (MW August 5).

Silentnight chief executive Nino Allenza says that despite the restructure and investment the brands have already received, the business would require a lot more money and focus from management before it would return a profit. He adds: “Such are the resources needed, the group could not continue to provide them without diluting the support it gives the bed brands and Silentnight Furniture.”

The group has started a consultation period with its employees about the future of the brands. It says it is in talks with “a number of interested parties” to secure the future of the portfolio of brands.