SOKOA

What SOKOA does

SOKOA is a French manufacturer of office and collective seating headquartered in Hendaye, Basque Country, with a production footprint exceeding 27,000 m² and a stated capacity of roughly 2,000 chairs per day. The company's product portfolio spans 18+ categories — executive chairs, 24/7 intensive-use chairs, operator and ergonomic task chairs, student chairs, high swivel chairs, meeting/training seating, lounge and sofa seating, modular banquette/pouf seating, beam seating, cafeteria chairs, stools, tables, shelving, outdoor furniture, panels and technical chairs — organized around named collections such as TERTIO, SEDNA, TELA, AMETS (NF Environnement certified), M4 (mesh executive line by Martin Ballendat), WI-MAX, KARLA (rotomolded, Observeur du Design 2013), K81 (executive by Jean-Louis Iratzoki), and newer lines ENEKA, MAHAIA, KEMEN, ILUN, BATBI and Bero. Underlying technology is largely mechanical: proprietary adjustment mechanisms (SYNCHRO AUTO with automatic tension regulation, ASYNCHRO, FLEX, CP, 3R), a custom-developed 100% mesh backrest on M4, and 1D-to-4D armrest adjustments.

Name

SOKOA

Legal name

SOKOA - SA

Website

https://sokoa.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1971

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SOKOA is a French manufacturer of office and collective seating based in Hendaye, Basque Country, producing a comprehensive range of ergonomic chairs and furniture for corporate, education, healthcare, hospitality and public-sector customers across France and 60+ export markets.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Office and Contract Seating

NAICS

Office Furniture (including Fixtures) Manufacturing (33721), Institutional Furniture Manufacturing (337127), Household and Institutional Furniture Manufacturing (33712)

SIC

Office Furniture (2520), Public Bldg & Related Furniture (2531)

akta.pro primary industry

Classroom & Student Furniture (Desks, Chairs, Tables, Storage) (EDAEAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Commercial Interior Fit-Out (Offices & Corporate) (IMAFANAA)

Keywords

• Office seating manufacturing
• Professional furniture solutions
• Ergonomic chairs
• Contract furniture
• Collective seating

Headquarters

HQ city

Hendaye

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Seating and furniture sales: SOKOA generates revenue through the manufacture and sale of office and collective seating solutions, including executive chairs, operator chairs, ergonomic chairs, meeting/training chairs, lounge furniture, and related office furniture (tables, shelving, outdoor). Revenue reported as 55 M€.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

SOKOA designs, manufactures, and sells office and collective seating solutions for professional environments, including executive chairs, operator/task chairs, 24/7 intensive-use chairs, ergonomic chairs, meeting/training chairs, lounge seating, cafeteria seating, technical chairs, and complementary furniture such as tables, shelving, outdoor furniture, and partitions. Production is carried out at a 27,000+ m² facility in Hendaye, France, with output of approximately 2,000 chairs per day sold across France and 60+ export markets through a network of local professionals and international showrooms.

Product overview

SOKOA is a French manufacturer of professional seating and office furniture based in Hendaye, Basque Country. The product portfolio consists of a comprehensive range of seating solutions organized by space type (Executive, Collaborative, Ergonomic/Technical, Meeting/Training, Break-out, Cafeteria) and product type (18+ categories). Core offerings include executive chairs, 24/7 intensive-use chairs, operator/task chairs, student chairs, meeting/training chairs, lounge seating, sofas, modular seating/poufs, beams, cafeteria chairs, ergonomic chairs, stools, tables, shelving, outdoor furniture, panels, and technical chairs. The product lines include named collections such as TERTIO, SEDNA, TELA, AMETS (NF Environnement certified), M4 (mesh executive by Martin Ballendat), WI-MAX (operator range), KARLA (rotomolded design), KØ1 (executive by Jean-Louis Iratzoki), ENEKA (outdoor), MAHAIA, KEMEN, ILUN, EMAN, BATBI, and Bero. The group includes four brands: SOKOA, GENEXCO, SELLEX, and SOREC SOLUTIONS, accessible via the App SOKOA.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Executive Chairs (Sièges de Direction) Premium office seating for executive and management spaces, featuring high-end materials and ergonomic mechanisms for directors and senior leadership.
• 24/7 Intensive-Use Chairs (Sièges 24/7) Heavy-duty seating engineered for continuous 24-hour use, intended for call centers, control rooms, surveillance posts, and other intensive work environments.
• Operator Chairs (Sièges opérateurs) Task seating for standard office workstations with adjustable mechanisms and ergonomic support for daily operators and administrative staff.
• Ergonomic Chairs (Sièges ergonomiques) Advanced ergonomic seating with multiple adjustment options (UP DOWN, Translation Assise, 1D-4D armrests) for optimal posture support and user comfort in knowledge-worker environments.
• Meeting and Training Chairs (Sièges réunion/formation) Seating designed for meeting rooms, conference spaces, and training facilities, with stackable and flexible configurations for collective use.
• Student Chairs (Sièges étudiants) Seating solutions designed for educational institutions, universities, libraries, and training environments requiring durable, stackable student seating.
• Lounge Chairs (Chauffeuses/lounge) Comfortable lounge seating for break rooms, reception areas, and informal collaboration zones in offices and public spaces.
• Sofas (Canapés) Sofa seating for professional reception areas, waiting rooms, and break spaces in offices and institutions.
• Modular Benches and Poufs (Banquettes modulaires - Poufs) Flexible modular bench seating and ottoman solutions for adaptable lounge and collaboration spaces in offices and public venues.
• Beam Seating (Poutres) Linear bench seating systems for open-plan areas, reception zones, and large-group seating configurations such as airports and waiting halls.
• Cafeteria Chairs (Sièges de cafétéria) Contract seating for canteens, cafeterias, and food service environments with durability and easy maintenance for high-traffic use.
• High Swivel Chairs (Sièges giratoires hauts) Elevated seating for laboratory, technical, and industrial work environments requiring height adjustability and cleanability.
• Fixed Stools (Tabourets fixes) Fixed-height stool seating for bars, high workstations, and informal seating areas in professional environments.
• Tables Professional tables for meeting rooms, training sessions, and workspace environments.
• Shelving (Rayonnages)

Quantifiable outcome

• 27,240 tonnes CO² equivalent (carbon footprint)
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers22 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SOLUTIONS TERTIAIRES (ARFEO group)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2011SOKOA and SOLUTIONS TERTIAIRES concluded an agreement in July 2011 through which SOKOA entered the ARFEO holding via a capital increase. This was complemented by collaboration to take over BUROFORM, a bureau manufacturer that had been in judicial reorganization since December 2010. This merger offers industrial and commercial synergies in a market that is increasingly international and concentrated.
• VALDELIAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011SOKOA is a founding member and Administrator of SAS VALDELIA, which is charged with the valorization of professional furniture at end of life. VALDELIA was created following the Grenelle Environment decisions placing responsibility on furniture producers for managing waste from their products. VALDELIA is the prefiguration of the future eco-organization for the sector, evaluating costs and technical constraints of implementing the recycling system.
• GENEXCO, SELLEX, SOREC SOLUTIONS (Group brands)coreOthersThe SOKOA App presents products from the 4 brands of the group: SOKOA, GENEXCO, SELLEX and SOREC SOLUTIONS. The group includes these subsidiary or related brands within its product ecosystem.
• Artistico (Egypt showroom)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorArtistico is the partner for SOKOA's showroom presence in Egypt, providing local representation and sales support in the Egyptian market.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Sedus Stoll: German manufacturer of office and contract seating with strong ergonomic and task-chair focus. Most direct peer to SOKOA in European upper-mid-market office seating with comparable emphasis on quality, ergonomics, and design credentials.
• Kinnarps: Swedish office furniture and seating group focused on workplace, education, and care environments. Closest European peer to SOKOA given comparable product breadth across task, executive, and collective seating, and a similar emphasis on Scandinavian/international design-led positioning.
• Ahrend: Dutch office furniture manufacturer covering seating, desking, and interiors across Benelux and broader Europe. A direct competitor in the European mid-market for contract seating and workplace furniture, with a comparable sustainability positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Haworth: Privately held global office furniture manufacturer with a broad seating and architectural interiors portfolio. Direct competitor in the European contract-seating and collective seating space, and a benchmark for SOKOA on global coverage and dealer-led distribution.
• Vitra: Swiss design-led furniture company with a strong contract-seating presence. SOKOA competes in adjacent premium office and collective seating categories where Vitra's designer collaborations (e.g., Eames) and global brand set the price/scope benchmark.
• Steelcase: Global leader in office furniture and contract seating for workplaces, education, and healthcare. Overlaps directly with SOKOA in office task seating, executive chairs, and educational/collective seating, but operates at vastly larger scale with global dealer networks.
• MillerKnoll (Herman Miller): Major North American office furniture and seating manufacturer with growing European footprint. Competes with SOKOA in premium ergonomic and executive seating segments (notably Aeron as a benchmark) and increasingly in collective/care settings.

Emerging players

• Bisley: UK office furniture specialist known for storage and increasingly broader workplace solutions including seating. Adjacent competitor in the European B2B office furniture market, with growing overlap on integrated workplace packages.

Regional players

• Nowy Styl Group: One of Europe's largest office seating and furniture manufacturers, headquartered in Poland with strong presence in Central and Eastern Europe and growing Western European footprint. Direct competitor on price-competitive contract-seating contracts and increasingly on European tender business.
• Senator Group: UK-headquartered office furniture and seating manufacturer with a broad seating portfolio and design-led positioning. Comparable to SOKOA in product breadth (task, executive, conference, lounge) and mid-market enterprise focus, primarily competing in UK/Ireland and export channels.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights8 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sokoa
• Xx.com/SOKOAchairs

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SOKOA