'Operational optimization' is a critical synergistic rationale that the leadership of MasterBrand is looking at as it looks to "dots the i's and cross the t's" on the massive $520 million deal announced May 21 that would see Supreme Cabinetry Brands come under the wing of MasterBrand, North America's largest manufacturer of cabinets.

HNI Corp. plans to close its Hickory, North Carolina, manufacturing plant during the first half of 2025 and consolidate production into its other North American facilities. A reported 200 workers will be affected by the closure.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Western Forest Products is taking steps to offer more value-added products to its customers, according to its first-quarter earnings report.

Container rates spiked, while the Commercial/Contract Furniture Index (+2.3%) outperformed the broader market indexes (all three up +1.6%) and our Mass Retailers Index (+0.6%) last week. Residential Manufacturers & Suppliers (-3.8%) and Home Goods Retailers (-2.8%) trailed.

In a $520 million deal, MasterBrand, the nation's largest cabinet company, has acquired Supreme Cabinetry Brands. MasterBrand said the deal is expected to bring annual cost savings of $28 million in procurement and production synergies, enhance its portfolio, and expand its dealer network and diversity of channel distribution.

SEATTLE -- Weyerhaeuser Company reported first quarter net earnings of $114 million on net sales of $1.8 billion.

MONTREAL -- Stella-Jones Inc. reported first-quarter sales of $775 million, an increase of 9% compared to Q1 2023. First quarter sales included a contribution of $14 million from the recently acquired Baldwin Pole and Piling Company.

Lumber Marketplace (LM), a platform for buying and selling wholesale hardwood lumber, has launched its online marketplace that the company said was designed to modernize the traditional lumber trade. With an extensive inventory and advanced functionalities, LM is set to be the largest source of hardwood lumber in North America.

The American Home Furnishings Alliance (AHFA) joined with the International Wood Products Association (IWPA) and the National Retail Federation (NRF) last week to submit comments on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 2024 draft risk evaluation for formaldehyde.

Bainbridge Manufacturing, a specialist in the design and manufacture of plastic-injected hardware and components used in cabinets, closets and furniture, will exhibit at Wood Pro Expo Lancaster, Oct. 24-25 at the Spooky Nook Sports Center, Lancaster County, Pa.