Steinhoff Group’s Epic Sponsored Cycle Ride

Jul 23rd, 2010

Steinhoff International Holdings is a South African listed group with worldwide sales of over £4billion and profits in excess of £350m. It employs over 40,000 people worldwide. Steinhoff UK Group is the UK’s largest integrated furniture manufacturing and retail group. It comprises 6 retail businesses (Harveys, Bensons, Sleepmasters, Bed Shed, Reid Furniture, Cargo), 5 manufacturing businesses (Relyon, Pritex, Norma, SUKU, Hukla) and a logistics business (Unitrans). In the UK, we employ 5000 people and have 6 factories, 20 distribution centres and over 600 retail stores. 

In May 2010, Bruno Steinhoff, the original founder of the group and now a non executive director, and Ian Topping, Chief Executive of Steinhoff UK,  cycled from the head office of Harveys in Thurrock, Essex to the European Head Office in Westerstede, Germany. Joined by many friends and colleagues for the different legs of the tour, the 600kms cycle took 4.5days. The weather was not particularly helpful; day 2 was the coldest and windiest day experienced in Holland in May in over 40 years!! 

The purpose of the ride was to raise money for childrens’ charities each of which is local to our 4 main operating bases internationally. These are: 

UK – James Hopkins Trust which helps severely disabled young children and those with life threatening or life limiting conditions aged 5 and under

Germany- Kinderschutzband Ammerland and Leer caring for needy children from socially disadvantaged families

South Africa – Steinhoff Extended Family Programme supporting 200 AIDS orphans in Soweto

Australia- Childrens Cancer Institute of Australia in Sydney 

This event has raised in total €100,000 of which just over £25,000 will be donated to the James Hopkins Trust. We are delighted that this will be able to provide respite care for 10 children for a year. So a very BIG THANK YOU to everyone involved in this event.