Noel Lister and Donald Searle founded MFI as Mullard Furniture Industries. Both men had been buying and selling government surplus stock after the 2nd World War and often met at auctions. They joined forces, based themselves in Edgware, North London, and used the maiden name of Donald Searle's wife for the company name.
They quickly started to specialise in flat-pack furniture selling by mail order. By the late 1960's the company had a number of stores in secondary high street positions selling the same goods as by mail order.
In 1971 under the Chairmanship of Arthur Southon who had previously been Noel Lister's accountant, MFI Warehouses was listed on the Stock Exchange. This was the most significant milestone in the company's history to date.
The range of furniture in 1977 was considerably extended and upgraded both in quality and design, special emphasis was given to the kitchen and bedroom product areas. At the end of the 1970's, MFI started to install a computerised information system that would link all branches with Head Office and provide stock and sales support.
In 1980 MFI bought Status Discount, a flatpack furniture retailer specialising in kitchens and bedrooms.
By the end of 1981 MFI had 116 stores all over the UK. An active policy of sourcing furniture from the UK enabled the company to control product quality and the reliance on imported goods was reduced, accounting for only a third of sales.
In 1982 MFI acquired the Hygena brand name with Humber Kitchens. Humber Kitchens then adopted Hygena as its own trading name, which had been recognised in the UK as the kitchen brand since the 1930's.
Throughout 2000 the drive has continued.
New routes to market included high street stores in major conurbations such as London and Hygena kitchen concessions in Currys stores.
On the MFI website you can enjoy internet shopping, the following department stores are available for you to buy/shop online:
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