RED DEER, Alberta – Westridge Cabinets Ltd., a manufacturer of kitchen cabinets in Alberta, has reportedly closed. In a notice posted on its front door, the company said it had encountered significant financial difficulty and filed a Notice of Intention to Make a Proposal under the Bankruptcy Act of Canada.

The company said it was a victim of the difficult economic conditions experienced in Alberta, including a prolonged economic recession that has lasted since 2014. The company statement said that new housing starts in Alberta have fallen and the company’s revenues have also declined.

According to Westridge’s website, the company made recessed panel, raised panel and slab doors and kitchens in classic, transitional, modern and contemporary styles.

In October, cabinet firms Westridge and Classic kitchens merged.

Westridge Cabinets was founded in 1983 and expanded from a distribution center in Red Deer. With more than 30 years of experience and recent investments in its infrastructure, Westridge said it was able to serve customers in Alberta, Western Canada, and the United States.

Founded in 1985, Classic Kitchens & Cabinets supplied cabinets for both new homes and renovation projects. Classic has longstanding relationships with many single and multi-family residential builders in both Calgary and Edmonton.

The new, combined company was reported to be the largest cabinet manufacturer in Alberta with retail locations in Calgary, Red Deer, and Edmonton. All manufacturing for the combined company was centralized in Red Deer, with 125,000 square feet of automated manufacturing space.

According to the recent statement, Westridge Cabinets shareholders invested their own capital during this period to reduce operating costs and cover losses. Westridge said that it explored discussions with competitors and customers about a possible sale or joint venture, and sought support from local and provincial governments. A reported 75 people lost jobs as a result of the closing.