A Danish furniture manufacturer, continues its strategic expansion not by acquiring buildings or production lines, but by securing access to the design legacies of Denmark's most revered furniture architects.
© Carl Hansen & Søn
Carl Hansen & Søn, led by CEO Knud Erik Hansen, has completed around ten acquisitions over recent years. The focus has consistently been on obtaining design rights and forging relationships with the heirs and studios of designers such as Kaare Klint, Hans J. Wegner and Nanna Ditzel. Hansen explained the approach by stating, 'It wasn't the buildings that interested me, it was the architects.'
This strategy was reinforced with the 2025 acquisition of Getama's design portfolio, following a devastating fire at the manufacturer's premises in 2024. Through this deal, Carl Hansen & Søn gained rights to celebrated designs including Wegner's GE290 lounge chair and Ditzel's Vita sofa.
Other notable acquisitions include Rud. Rasmussens Snedkerier (2011), PJ Furniture (2012), Søborg Furniture (2017), Okholm Lighting (2023), and Pandul Lighting (2024). These moves have broadened the company's design range, from classic chairs to lighting.
The firm remains firmly rooted in Denmark, with all manufacturing retained domestically and 85 percent of output exported globally. Its flagship Copenhagen store was recently consolidated into a single, expansive showroom on Bredgade, a historic art and design district.
Additionally, Carl Hansen & Søn introduced a new COO and CFO in March 2025, underscoring its commitment to modernisation while preserving timeless design.
Knud Erik Hansen summed up the philosophy behind the acquisitions: 'They were insanely talented and often not very well known... then suddenly – boom, it works.'
Source: www.wood-supply.dk