European furniture brand Alinea is set to return after being rescued from liquidation by MH France, the French subsidiary of Chinese e-commerce group Aosom. The acquisition of the brand and its operating rights was approved by French courts on July 9, 2026, and announced by MH France chief executive Emmanuel Benichou on July 11.
Acquisition Details
Benichou confirmed the acquisition in a LinkedIn post, stating: "Today, I am pleased to announce that the MH France/Aosom.fr group has just acquired the Alinea brand and its operating rights. Some brands go beyond just their commercial activities; they are part of the landscape and Alinea is one of those brands. Since its creation in 1988 in Avignon, the brand has left its mark on several generations of French people, and the world of furniture and decoration.... Today marks the beginning of a new chapter."
Relaunch Plans
As part of the relaunch, Alinea's online store will shortly go live again, followed by a franchise-based retail network. MH France plans to preserve Alinea's identity while combining French and European-inspired collections with imported products. More details about the long-term strategy are expected in the coming weeks.
Background of Liquidation
Alinea had faced years of difficulties before its ultimate demise in March 2026. Placed under court-ordered administration at the end of 2025, the business was formally liquidated on March 31, 2026. This resulted in the closure of all 36 stores and the dismissal of nearly 1,200 staff after the only comprehensive takeover bid was rejected. The retailer's website stopped accepting orders on February 26, 2026, leading to scammers launching fake clearance websites.
CEO's Statement
Benichou emphasized that the takeover represents "both a responsibility and a tremendous opportunity" and urged customers to remain vigilant against potential scammers during the reboot. MH France currently retails through multiple e-commerce marketplaces and sells products under various brand names.
