British Furniture Brand MFI Expected to Relaunch Online in 2026 After 18-Year Hiatus

Iconic British furniture brand MFI, which collapsed in 2008, is set to make a comeback as a standalone online homewares business in the second half of 2026 under new ownership by Victorian Plumbing. The relaunch will target the £20 billion UK homewares market with a product range including kitchens, bedrooms, living rooms, dining rooms, and home accessories, supported by a £3 million investment in people and property. Victorian Plumbing plans to leverage its existing infrastructure, including two warehouses in Lancashire, and will be led by an experienced management team. MFI, once the UK's largest furniture retailer known for popularizing flat-pack furniture long before Ikea, had a significant cultural presence in British homes before its decline due to increased competition and the 2008 financial crisis. Victorian Plumbing's CEO Mark Radcliffe expressed enthusiasm for the brand's reinvention, highlighting their e-commerce expertise and proprietary software as key assets for growth. The relaunch reflects Victorian Plumbing's strategic expansion into the wider homewares sector following its acquisition of the MFI brand as part of Victoria Plum.