MillerKnoll Acquires Regional Waiting Chair Manufacturer to Expand European Market Reach

ZEELAND, Mich. — MillerKnoll, the parent company of iconic furniture brands Herman Miller and Knoll, this week announced that it has acquired Zoeftig, a UK-based manufacturer of public waiting chairs, in a £45 million deal that will expand the company’s reach in the European public seating market.

Zoeftig, which was founded in 1971, is a leading manufacturer of waiting chairs for airports, hospitals, and public spaces across Europe, with a strong reputation for high-quality, durable, and sustainable products. The company has annual revenue of around £32 million, and its clients include major airports like Heathrow, Gatwick, and Amsterdam Schiphol, as well as hundreds of hospitals and government offices across the continent.

The acquisition is part of MillerKnoll’s broader strategy to expand its presence in the public seating market, which the company sees as a major growth opportunity. The company has long been a leader in office furniture, but it has been looking to diversify its product portfolio to include public seating, which has been growing rapidly in recent years.

“Zoeftig is the perfect addition to the MillerKnoll family,” said Andi Owen, president and CEO of MillerKnoll. “They have an incredible reputation in Europe for high-quality waiting chair solutions, and they have a team of experts who understand the public seating market better than anyone. This acquisition will allow us to bring their products to our global clients, while also expanding our reach in the European market.”

For Zoeftig, the acquisition will allow the company to expand its global reach, using MillerKnoll’s extensive distribution network to sell its products in North America, Asia, and other markets around the world. The company will also be able to leverage MillerKnoll’s research and development capabilities to develop new products and technologies.

“ We’ve been looking for a partner that can help us take our business to the next level, and MillerKnoll is exactly that,” said John Zoeftig, founder and CEO of Zoeftig. “We’ve built a great business in Europe, but we wanted to expand globally, and MillerKnoll has the reach and the resources to help us do that. We’re also excited to be able to work with their team to develop new, innovative waiting chair solutions for our clients.”

The acquisition comes at a time when the European public seating market is growing rapidly, driven by infrastructure investments, sustainability regulations, and the demand for smart, accessible seating solutions. MillerKnoll plans to invest heavily in Zoeftig’s operations, expanding its production capacity to meet the growing demand for its products.

The deal is also part of a broader trend of consolidation in the waiting chair industry, as larger companies acquire smaller regional manufacturers to expand their market reach. Over the past two years, there have been more than 12 mergers and acquisitions in the global waiting chair industry, as companies look to consolidate their position in the growing market.

“ The waiting chair industry is growing so fast, and it’s getting more competitive,” said Sarah Jones, an industry analyst at Future Market Report. “Larger companies are acquiring smaller, regional players to get access to their clients, their technology, and their distribution networks. That’s exactly what MillerKnoll is doing with this acquisition of Zoeftig.”

Industry analysts say that the acquisition will make MillerKnoll one of the largest players in the European waiting chair market, with a combined market share of around 8.2%. The company will now be able to offer a full range of public seating solutions, from airport seating to hospital waiting chairs, to clients across Europe and around the world.

“ This is a game-changer for the European waiting chair market,” said Jones. “MillerKnoll is bringing their global resources and expertise, combined with Zoeftig’s local knowledge and reputation. That’s going to make them a very strong competitor, and it’s going to drive even more innovation in the industry.”

The deal is expected to close in the third quarter of 2025, subject to regulatory approval. After the close, Zoeftig will operate as a separate brand within MillerKnoll’s public seating division, retaining its existing team and operations in the UK.