Winner: The Furniture Awards 2024 (Global Player)

The Furniture Awards returned at this year’s January Furniture Show, to single out the suppliers setting the pace in their respective fields. From local leaders to innovative importers, this year’s winners represent just what our industry is capable of …

Qualita’s story has it all – cost engineering, manufacturing efficiency, effective fulfilment partnerships, and eminently commercial product, making it a stand-out entrant in this year’s competition.

Supplementing its modern manufacturing facility in Lithuania, Qualita works closely with third-party manufacturers across the globe, enabling it to meet demand in the most appropriate manner. In the UK, its Qualita, Stockholm and Shadows collections represent a varied cabinet furniture portfolio with oak at its heart – and the business also operates across Europe, and further afield, fuelled by its impressive licensing deal with Laura Ashley.

“Qualita’s offer is comprehensive,” says the judges, “comprising a huge volume of products in a wide variety of styles. It’s a fantastic range, and a very well-organised business, that’s always looking for new opportunities – and boasts a proven ability to make the most of them.”

With over 20 years of experience in manufacturing, wholesaling and, more recently, licensing and selling to a diverse variety of clients, both in the retail and in contract sectors, Qualita has developed an ability to address both specific product briefs and global market trends. Having acquired the licence to develop, manufacture, supply and distribute Laura Ashley cabinet furniture in 2020, Qualita’s focus has been sharpened yet further.

Alongside its own manufacturing facility in Kaunas, Lithuania, Qualita works with a network of partner factories in Indonesia and India, and across Eastern Europe, investing in local QC experts to ensure consistency and continuity.

“Whilst our reach is truly global, it is the UK market that remains our largest, and rightly commands much of our attention,” says Qualita’s head of sales for the UK and RoI, Anthony Matthias. “Aside from white label production for retailers such as Heal’s and Soho Home, for our independent retail portfolio can be divided into three distinct looks:  our own Qualita contemporary collection of solid oak, ash and walnut living and dining furniture; the Stockholm (former Winsor Furniture) living, dining and bedroom collections; and the Shadows living and dining collection.

“And let’s not forget our exclusive Laura Ashley licence. This quintessentially British brand still resonates strongly with the public, and a strong part of that is the furniture offer, which presently consists of more than 20 different collections and looks.

“All our ranges are comprehensive in their SKU count, enabling consumers to buy into the look and to add to their collection over time.”

Beyond the UK, Qualita is active across Germany, Sweden, France and Spain, with the new license extending its reach across much of Europe and the wider world – and Qualita is already looking towards new opportunities in the Americas.

Read more about this year’s award winners in the March issue of Furniture News.

Pictured: Furniture News’ Paul Farley, Anthony Matthias, and Clarion Events’ Zoë Bonser