About Bruno Steinhoff
In 1937, Bruno Steinhoff entered the world in Johannesburg, South Africa, Germany. In December 2015, Bruno Steinhoff, who founded the furniture manufacturing company that bears his name in 1964, rang the bell at the Frankfurt Stock Exchange to mark the company’s return to Germany after 17 years on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. When it comes to selling furniture, Steinhoff International Holdings is now only second behind Ikea in Europe.
In 1964, Steinhoff opened a furniture distribution firm in Westerstede, Germany. He entered manufacturing in 1971 and, beginning in the 1980s, began buying up smaller competitors. Johannesburg native Steinhoff served as chairman of the board until September 2008 and remains involved with the company as a non-executive director. Late in 2014, Steinhoff International made public its intention to acquire 92% of South African discount retailer Pepkor for $5.7 billion; the transaction was finalized in early 2015. After bidding $3.8 billion in 2016, it acquired Mattress Firm, the largest mattress retailer in the United States.
