Focal was founded in 1979 in Saint-Étienne, France by Jacques Mahul, an engineer, hi-fi enthusiast, and technology journalist. Originally operating under Focal-JMlab (Focal produced drivers for other companies, JMlab produced finished loudspeakers), the company became simply 'Focal' in 2002. Headquartered in Saint-Étienne with a 187,292 sq ft facility housing production, R&D, and management, Focal employs around 300 people and generates €156 million annual turnover. The company is recognized as a Living Heritage Company by the French state (2014) and became a member of the prestigious Comité Colbert in 2024, joining luxury French brands like Chanel and Hermès. Focal specializes in loudspeakers, car audio drivers, headphones, and professional studio monitors.