WINCHESTER, VA - Kitchen cabinet manufacturer American Woodmark  (NASDAQ: AMWD) net sales rose  26% third quarter to $151.3 million. American Woodmark experienced sales gains in each of its sales channels during the third quarter of fiscal year 2013, led by new construction sales growth of more than 50%.

Net income was $2.1 million, compared with a net loss of $2.8 million the year prior. The kitchen and bath cabinet maker reported a $9 million loss the year prior, but restructuring costs reduced that by $6 million.

Gross profit was favorably impacted by reductions in fixed overhead costs associated with the plant closures. In April 2012 American Woodmark closed two manufacturing plants and sold an assembly plant that had been shuttered since 2009, leaving it with nine operating plants from which it supplies four cabinetry channels: Home Depot, with the American Woodmark label; Loew's, which sells Shenandoah and Potomac Cabinetry; Timberlake for new construction; and Waypoint for kitchen and bath designers.

With sales rising as the plants closed, says American Woodmark, "operational inefficiencies in transitioning production during plant closures" impacted margins.

Cost savings from modifications to American Woodmark's retirement programs also improved results, thugh free cash flow declined by $1.3 million as a byproduct of the timing of the collections from its customers and by contributions made to its pension plan.