Airsprung Furniture administration signals further strain on UK manufacturing retail supply chain

Airsprung Furniture Limited, a historic UK mattress and bed manufacturer whose roots trace back to 1871, has entered administration following mounting cashflow pressures and prolonged difficult trading conditions across the UK retail and manufacturing sectors.

Ross Connock and Edward Williams of PwC were appointed joint administrators of Airsprung Furniture Limited and parent company Airsprung Group plc on 1 May 2026. The appointment followed an unsuccessful effort by the directors to secure new investment or a rescue transaction capable of stabilising the business.

Founded originally as Chapmans of Trowbridge, the business evolved into one of the UK’s best-known mattress manufacturers over more than 150 years of trading. Airsprung previously supplied beds to government residences and, by the late 1980s, had become one of the country’s largest bed manufacturers.

The company grew to manufacture mattresses and beds for major UK retailers including Dunelm and Asda, while also operating direct-to-consumer and online sales channels. The group traded under a portfolio of established brands including Airsprung, Gainsborough and Airofreem, and operated two manufacturing facilities in Trowbridge.

The administration marks a significant collapse within Britain’s domestic furniture manufacturing sector, which has faced sustained pressure from weakening discretionary consumer demand, elevated input costs, supply chain volatility and higher labour expenses. Administrators said the companies experienced increasingly severe liquidity pressures in recent months despite efforts to pursue refinancing and investment options.

Airsprung employed approximately 202 staff at the time of the appointment. The joint administrators made 71 employees redundant immediately upon taking control of the business, while retaining the remaining workforce to continue limited trading operations and complete outstanding customer orders during the administration process.

The administrators said they intend to pursue an accelerated marketing and sale process while maintaining operations where commercially viable. Discussions are ongoing with customers, suppliers and other stakeholders as PwC evaluates interest in the business and its assets.