About Us

Key Strengths

- In-house design complemented by licensing expertise
- Far East sourcing skills - long term relationships
- Quality Assurance - both in the UK and the Far East, including specialised
   testing equipment
- Stock and service commitment - own warehousing of 100,000 square feet
- Variety of product categories - fashion and home
- Financial stability and resources

Retail Distribution

AFB supplies all categories of retail distribution including Department Stores, Fashion and Discount Fashion, Heath and Beauty Retailers, General Retailers.

Geographic Distribution

Our primary market is nationwide UK, but we also distribute and sell to Benelux, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Italy, Iceland, Finland, Hungary, Bulgaria and Czech Republic.

Corporate History

1918 Founded as one of the first Far East importers by Alfred Franks
1967 Laurence Cowan joins the business
1975 Clive Reid joins the business
1994 Management buy-out: Nick Fisher joins the business
1997 Corporate structure changed to PLC status
1998 Moved to new 27,000 sq ft premises in St Albans. Design and showroom         facility established
1999 Restructured computer system and logistics procedures
2000 New enlarged Design and Development department established
2002 Additional 75,000 sq ft custom-built distribuiton warehouse acquired to         facilitate future growth
2004 Additional 10,000 sq ft of showrooms added to St Albans facility
2005 Established subsidiary AFB Licensing for Guards Polo Brand. 
2006 Signed global distribution license for Slazenger Personal Care            products.