With the 2005 acquisition of a controlling shareholding in Homestyle Group plc, Steinhoff  has expanded its traditional base of furniture and foam manufacturing and wholesale of imported furniture to furniture and bed retailing through several prominent retail chains. At the end of 2006 Steinhoff made an offer to aquire the remaining interest in and to de-list Homestyle by way of a scheme of arrangement.

Homestyle’s furniture division trades as Harveys with 170 locations across the UK, while the beds division operates through Bensons, Sleepmasters and Bed Shed from almost 400 stores. The Homestyle investment has given Steinhoff a substantial vertically integrated furniture manufacturing and retail business in the UK market.

A new manufacturing facility in Wales supplies high-quality upholstery for Harveys and Factory Shack, while the acquisition of retail business Cargo Home Shop complements Steinhoff’s existing UK operations and offer cross-fertilisation opportunities.