More than 200 jobs to go at Triumph furniture company in Merthyr Tydfil

A well-known South Wales office furniture manufacturer has fallen into administration with the loss of 239 jobs.

Triumph Furniture Limited which has bases in Merthyr Tydfil and Dowlais, entered into administration after what it called "an unprecedented fall in sales in the course of the last 10 weeks."

Thirteen of the company’s employees are being retained in the short term to assist the administrators with their duties.

Triumph has been designing and manufacturing furniture as a family owned business since 1946.

It specialises in making work furniture including sofas, lockers, storage and desks.

Its head office first opened in Merthyr Tydfil in 1963.

Begbies Traynor, have been appointed as joint administrators to manage the company’s affairs.

Established in 1946, the family-run business went on to supply a network of over 600 office furniture resellers and is a key supplier into central government. Triumph has been a major employer in Merthyr Tydfil, supporting some 252 jobs across its two sites.

Andrew Jackson, CEO of Triumph Furniture, said, “The family is devastated by this appalling outcome and are extremely concerned for the welfare of all Triumph employees and their families at this terrible time."

"The business has suffered a rapid and catastrophic collapse in orders since the middle of July, which has been impossible to recover from, despite every effort. Triumph has enjoyed incredible loyalty and support from the committed people of Merthyr and the surrounding valleys, which has been a key element of our success and longevity. All connected with the business over these years should be very proud of what has been achieved.”

Huw Powell, from the administrators Begbies Traynor, said, “It is especially sad to see such a prominent business fail when there are so many redundancies involved. We know this will be devastating news for those concerned."