DFS has confirmed that it plans to close its Berkeley Magna factory in Long Eaton, as well as the woodmill which supplies it, as part of a wider strategy to consolidate its UK manufacturing operations.
"Having made high quality sofas in the UK for over 50 years, we’re extremely proud of our manufacturing heritage," states the retailer. "Over the past few years we’ve improved performance by investing in our larger UK manufacturing sites, as well as our in-house design capabilities.
"Against the backdrop of increased manufacturing costs, we have comprehensively reviewed our manufacturing strategy. As a result, we are now proposing to consolidate our overall UK manufacturing operations by closing Berkeley Magna, our smallest upholstery factory, along with the Heanor Gate woodmill which supplies it.
"Regrettably this will affect 225 colleagues across the sites. We’re currently supporting them through the process to explore what these plans mean for them. This includes seeking to identify opportunities at our other manufacturing sites and also within the wider group if that becomes necessary.
"We don’t expect any impact on customer orders. Production from these sites would be redistributed to our two larger UK factories along with some trusted long-term supplier partners."
The group trades three brands – DFS, Dwell and Sofology – and is one of the largest manufacturers of upholstered furniture in the UK, making around 20% of its sofas in its own five UK factories and woodmills.
