David Belford , the US-based owner of United Furniture Industries who abruptly fired all of its 2,700 employees in one night last month and disappeared, has resurfaced, saying he is "devastated by the turn of events" and calling the situation "agonising". 📲 United Furniture Layoffs: Owner David Belford, Who Abruptly Fired 2,700 Employees in Single Night, Calls Move ‘Agonising’.