GERMANY – With its sales growth of 8% to € 550 million worldwide in 2017 (2016: € 512 million) Häcker Küchen, one of Germany’s largest kitchen furniture manufacturers, has developed better than the industry average.

BRAZIL – After a difficult first half of 2017 for the furniture industry in Bento Gonçalves, the figures collected by the Commercial Intelligence department of the Bento Gonçalves Furniture Industry Association (Sindmóveis) show signs of recovery by the year’s end.

USA – Knoll, Inc. and Muuto announced that Knoll, Inc. has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Muuto, the Copenhagen-based designer and provider of affordable luxury furniture, lighting and accessories for the workplace and home for USD 300 million.

U.S.- Steelcase Inc. announced the pending acquisition of AMQ Solutions, a California-based provider of height adjustable desking, benching and seating for workstations in the open plan, collaborative environments and training rooms.

GERMANY – The insolvency administrator of Alno AG, one of the largest kitchen manufacturers in Germany, has announced that the group is set to permanently shut down after the last interested potential investor of the business pulled out of negotiations without making an offer.

GERMANY – Steelcase announced the opening of its newest Learning + Innovation Center (LINC), capping a multi-year effort to bring together employees and boost global growth.

GERMANY – After the Austrian antitrust authorities had already given the green light for the takeover of the Alno subsidiary, the German Federal Cartel Office also approved the sale.

GERMANY – Leicht Kuchen AG one of the top German Kitchen manufacturers based in Waldstetten will invest in the construction of a highly automated new plant near its existing plant.

NETHERLANDS – The IKEA Group reported total retail sales of USD 40.2 billion (EUR 34.1 billion) for fiscal year 2017 which ended on August 31st. Adjusted for currency impact IKEA Group’s retail sales increased by 3.8 percent during the year.

NETHERLANDS – Last October 9th Inter IKEA Systems B.V., owner of the IKEA Concept and the worldwide IKEA franchisor, issued a press release summarizing the results for fiscal year 2017 and the future outlook. The company also highlighted its future target markets: South America and South East Asia.

GERMANY – The German high end kitchen furnishings manufacturer Siematic has been acquired by Chinese home appliance supplier Nison Group.

CHINA – Nanning Shuixin Ketien based in Lanzhou, northwest China, a global supplier of home furnishings and water-based paints, has decided to venture into the production of wood panels by signing a contract for the supply of a particleboard manufacturing line with the German Siemplekamp group.