For over four decades, Landau has proudly stood as a family-owned business, and this year, we joyfully celebrate 45 years of dedicated service in the industry. As we mark this significant milestone, we take a moment to reminisce about our humble beginnings and the journey that has brought us to where we are today.
Back in 1979, Arni Mertens laid the cornerstone of our company, operating under the name Arni Mertens (Sales) Ltd from his residence on Priory Road in Hull. Operations, initially office-based, focused on fulfilling direct bulk orders for customers, as we had yet to venture into stocking or manufacturing. Arni had two distributors at this time distributing ‘Landau doors’. These distributors were Camargue Kitchens of Dunstable and PWS Distributors of Newton Aycliffe and amazingly both of these companies are still going strong today.
During this foundational period, Arni secured exclusive distributorship of all products from Haelvoets NVSA in Belgium. Three years later, in collaboration with the owners of Haelvoets, he saw an opportunity to expand their reach within the UK market. Thus, Landau was born, prompting a rebranding in 1983 to Landau Holdings Ltd. Initially, the garage at Arni’s home served as the primary storage for Landau doors and associated products.
Driven by the demand for high-quality solid wood doors in the UK, the company quickly gained momentum. In 1985, recognising the need for expansion, Arni acquired a former co-op on County Road South, Hull. This strategic move allowed him to establish offices and a showroom on the ground floor, while storage facilities were situated on the first floor, accessible through a unique hay loft with a forklift.
In 1983, Arni’s son Stephen joined the business, followed by his brother Nigel in 1985, marking the transition to a family-run enterprise. Assuming leadership roles in the late ’80s, they oversaw further expansions, leading to the construction of our current premises in Hull, where they proudly continue operations to this day.
Stephen’s retirement to France in 2014 saw Nigel taking the helm of the company, with his son James joining as FD design manager. James has played an integral role in crafting the company’s literature and organising pricing and brochures to support our trade customers. David Johnson, initially employed as Sales Manager, now serves as the Managing Director, overseeing our day-to-day operations. While Nigel remains involved, he is gradually embracing a quieter life with a view to retirement.
Today, Landau is recognised as a premier UK furniture manufacturer, renowned for its commitment to quality and innovation. Under the Landau brand umbrella, they offer four distinct collections: Brooklands In-Frame kitchen doors, Nature’s Choice Lay-On Kitchen Doors, Parapan High Gloss Acrylic Kitchen Doors, and Manor House Bedroom Doors. Additionally, they supply complete kitchens and solid oak carcasses to a diverse range of clients, including kitchen retailers, developers, interior designers, and more.
As we look ahead to the future, we remain steadfast in our dedication to excellence, serving our customers with integrity and passion, across Yorkshire and the whole of the UK. We continually look to partner with retailers across the UK on a diverse range of projects.
Landau – Where Tradition Meets Innovation, and Excellence Knows No Bounds.
