Bensons for Beds are the largest UK bed retailer in terms of numbers of stores having 307 branches (October 2011) following a merger in October 2011 with sister companies Sleepmasters in England, Wales and Northern Ireland along with Bed Shed in Scotland. Bensons was initially founded as a general store in 1950 by Cyril Benson, with the first bed centre opening in 1972. The company is now based in Accrington in Lancashire and operates as a chain of concessions and stand alone stores. The chain is part of the Steinhoff International, which also owns UK furniture brands Harveys and Cargo.