Kinnarps - History

1940s

Evy & Jarl Andersson launched the Kinnarps business in 1942 with two employees. Initially, furniture was made to order; mainly for architects. In 1943 Kinnarps started to deliver tambour cabinets to the Swedish Government and three years later the first contract with the Swedish Government was signed.

1950s

Kinnarps invested in its first complete range of office furniture and produced its first catalogue in 1952. Completion of the new factory gave Kinnarps the space it needed to expand its production of chairs. In 1959 Kinnarps started to deliver the furniture with its own furniture van and assemble the furniture at the customer‘s office.

1960s

In the beginning of the 60s 34 people worked for Kinnarps and the turnover broke the 2 million SEK mark. In 1968 Kinnarps opened a showroom in Stockholm. During the 60s the product assortment increased and Kinnarps started with order-directed production.

1970s

Henry Jarlsson, the oldest son of Kinnarps’ founders, took up his current post as CEO in 1973. Kinnarps was established on the export market with launch in London in 1974. In 1977 Kinnarps bought a briquette press for wood waste. The briquettes reduced the use of heating oil and made use of the inevitable wood waste from the factory.

1980s

In the mid-1980s Kinnarps decided to invest in a new and comprehensive range of furniture. Soft seating and conference-room furniture were incorporated into Kinnarps’ standard sortiment. Kinnarps also purchased the supplier Granstrands and invested in a new factory in Skillingaryd.

1990s

Kinnarps becomes the first furniture manufacturer in Sweden to receive quality certification under ISO 9001 in 1993. Kinnarps' eco management system was certified under ISO 14001 in 1997. Kinnarps also decided to join EMAS, the EU initiative the same year. In the 90s, the teamwork with the supplier Reiners was developed and in the autumn of 1999 Reiners became a part of the Kinnarps group.

2000+

Kinnarps won two awards in the beginning of the new century – “the Balanced Scorecard Hall of Fame Award” and “the Competence Company of the year in Sweden”. Kinnarps was established in several new markets and acquired the design furniture companies Klaessons, Materia and Skandiform. In 2007 Kinnarps had the biggest product launch ever in Kinnarps history when four new products series were launched.

Today

The Kinnarps Group has about 2200 employees in Sweden and in the rest of Europe today. In total, including sales agents there are nearly 2800 team members working with Kinnarps around the world. Kinnarps offers furniture for all types of workplaces, from open-plan offices, seating, executive offices and cellular groups, to conference, training and meeting environments, café and restaurants, reception, breakout areas and quiet spaces. In short terms – Kinnarps provide interior workspace solutions for offices and public environments.