Schreiber
One of the world's largest dairy companies, known for cheese and dairy products
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Founded by Everett Schreiber in 1945, Schreiber Foods is an employee-owned dairy company producing cheese, yogurt, cream, and other products, serving retail and foodservice channels with various brands and private label products.
History
Schreiber Furniture began in 1957 when Chaim Schreiber acquired the bankrupt Lubetkin furniture business and relaunched it under his surname. Schreiber had previously manufactured radio cabinets for Dansette and other electrical companies, giving him relevant production experience before entering furniture under his own brand. The business expanded rapidly during the 1960s. It became a major value-market producer of bedroom furniture and competed with Harris Lebus and Gomme, two of the better-known British furniture manufacturers of the period. The acquisition of Greaves and Thomas in 1967 added a more upmarket furniture business to the group. By 1970, Schreiber's turnover had surpassed Gomme's, while the failure of Harris Lebus strengthened its competitive position. In the early 1970s, Schreiber broadened its product range into upholstered furniture and fitted kitchens. It also developed company-associated retail outlets known as Schreiber Furniture Centres. These centres stocked thousands of products and represented an effort to control more of the path from manufacturing to consumer sales. Hundreds of potential retail traders applied to operate such outlets, and around 280 centres ultimately opened. The expansion was followed by financial difficulty. Attempts to float the company in 1972 and 1973 did not succeed, and the business required additional capital by 1974. Sir Arnold Weinstock of GEC proposed combining Schreiber Wood Industries with British Domestic Appliances, the company behind Hotpoint and Morphy Richards. In August 1974, the businesses were placed within GEC-Schreiber Limited. GEC held 62.5 percent and Chaim Schreiber held 27.5 percent of the resulting enterprise. The combined group made a small profit in its first financial year, and Schreiber was described at the time as the UK's largest domestic furniture producer. A new Runcorn, Cheshire, factory was completed in 1978. In 1983, the group was reconstructed so that Hotpoint returned to GEC ownership and Schreiber Industries returned to the Schreiber family. Chaim Schreiber died in May 1984, and his son David assumed control. The Hoddesdon manufacturing plant closed in 1984, concentrating production at Runcorn, while 87 redundancies were made in 1986 as the business sought to improve its performance. Dennis Thomas, who had joined the organisation when Schreiber acquired Greaves and Thomas, served as chairman before his death in 1986. In August 1987, David Schreiber sold the company in a management buy-in to Bob Thornton and Stanley Cohen. The transaction ended the Schreiber family's direct involvement. MFI bought Schreiber in November 1988 for £35 million in cash. Schreiber operated within MFI's portfolio until MFI entered administration in 2008. Home Retail Group acquired the Schreiber brand rights for the United Kingdom and Ireland in 2009, alongside the Hygena rights. The brands were relaunched through Home Retail Group's Argos and Homebase businesses. Sainsbury's acquired Home Retail Group in 2016, and the transaction included the Schreiber rights. After the acquisition, Schreiber branding was gradually removed. Homebase stopped using the branding in 2017 after the relevant agreement expired, while Sainsbury's replaced Schreiber products in the Argos channel with the Argos Home range. The Schreiber brand was consequently discontinued as a distinct active retail identity.
- 2017
Brand discontinued
[1]Schreiber branding was withdrawn and replaced by the Argos Home range.
- 2016
Sainsbury's acquires Home Retail Group
[1]Sainsbury's completed its acquisition of Home Retail Group, including the Schreiber rights.
- 2009
Home Retail Group acquires brand rights
[1]Home Retail Group acquired the UK and Irish Schreiber rights after MFI's administration.
- 1988
MFI acquisition
[1]MFI acquired Schreiber and added it to its household-brand portfolio.
- 1984
David Schreiber takes control
[1]Following Chaim Schreiber's death, his son David assumed control of the business.
- 1978
Runcorn factory completed
[1]The company completed a new manufacturing facility at Runcorn in Cheshire.
- 1974
GEC-Schreiber merger
[1]Schreiber joined British Domestic Appliances in the GEC-Schreiber structure.
- 1973
Expansion into kitchens and retail centres
[1]The company added fitted kitchens and expanded its Schreiber Furniture Centre retail model.
- 1970
Turnover surpasses Gomme
[1]Schreiber's turnover overtook that of rival Gomme amid rapid expansion and changing competition.
- 1967
Greaves and Thomas acquisition
[1]Schreiber bought the more upmarket furniture competitor Greaves and Thomas.
Products and positioning
Mass-market and value-oriented British household furniture, later extended into fitted kitchens and vertically integrated retail.
Bedroom furniture · 1957
Bedroom furniture
Bedroom furniture was Schreiber's core commercial category during its strongest period in the 1960s and early 1970s. The brand was associated particularly with value-oriented mass-market bedroom products and competed with established British manufacturers. Its bedroom range formed the foundation for later expansion into broader household furniture.
Upholstered furniture · 1973
Upholstered furniture
Schreiber introduced upholstered furniture as part of its early-1970s diversification. The move extended the brand beyond its established bedroom-furniture base and supported its ambition to provide products for several rooms in the home.
Kitchen furniture · 1973
Fitted kitchens
Fitted kitchens became part of Schreiber's expanded household offering in the 1970s. The category complemented bedroom and upholstered furniture and helped position the company as a supplier capable of furnishing much of the home.
Brand decisions
2017
Replacement by Argos HomeStrategyBackground
After Sainsbury's acquired Home Retail Group, the owner reassessed the branding used across its home-furnishings offer.
Action taken
Sainsbury's quietly dropped the Schreiber name and integrated the products into the Argos Home range.
Aftermath
Schreiber ceased to operate as a distinct active brand.
2009
Home Retail Group acquires brand rightsM&ABackground
MFI entered administration in 2008, putting the future ownership of its consumer brands in question.
Action taken
Home Retail Group acquired the UK and Irish rights to Schreiber and relaunched the brand through Argos and Homebase.
Aftermath
Schreiber became a retail-distributed brand rather than an independently operating furniture manufacturer.
1988
MFI acquisitionM&ABackground
MFI sought to add an established British household-furniture name to its brand portfolio.
Action taken
MFI acquired Schreiber for £35 million in cash.
Aftermath
Schreiber operated as part of MFI until the group's administration in 2008.
Acquisition price. £35 million (1988)
1987
Management buy-in ends family ownershipM&ABackground
The business was under pressure after manufacturing consolidation and workforce reductions.
Action taken
David Schreiber sold the company to a management buy-in led by Bob Thornton and Stanley Cohen.
Aftermath
The Schreiber family's direct involvement ended, and MFI acquired the company the following year.
1974
Merger with British Domestic AppliancesM&ABackground
Unsuccessful flotation attempts and a need for additional capital left Schreiber seeking a larger corporate partner.
Action taken
Schreiber Wood Industries was combined with British Domestic Appliances in GEC-Schreiber Limited, with GEC holding the majority interest.
Aftermath
The combined group made a small profit in its first financial year, although the structure was later reconstructed and Schreiber returned to family ownership in 1983.
Recent events
Parkson acquired Schreiber LLC assets[2]
Reported:
Parkson Corporation announced that it had acquired the assets of Schreiber LLC, adding wastewater-treatment technologies and expanding its aftermarket parts and services offering.
Sources3 sources
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