Tru Cabinetry Winding Down Operations at Alabama Plant

Ashland, AL—Tru-Wood Cabinet Company announced in August that it would permanently close its Ashland, AL plant, laying off all employees. Its workforce totaled 260 in recent years.

Operating under the brand Tru Cabinetry, the company has been owned since 2013 in a partnership between management and Building Industry Partners, an investment group, and is part of a United Cabinet Holdings business unit.

Tru-Wood Cabinet Company, LLC, also operates Ashland Trucking Company, which will also close, with operations ending earlier this month.

“We will begin winding down operations immediately,” according to local news media quoting a letter from president and CEO Butch Reimer said. “Employment for some employees will end before September 3, 2022.”

Equity investors Building Industry Partners formed United Cabinet Holdings in 2012 to pursue acquisitions within the kitchen and bath cabinetry sector. United Cabinet acquired Touchstone Fine Cabinetry in 2012 (sold in 2018 to Precision Cabinets), and acquired Tru Cabinetry in 2013, run in partnership with Reimer and Allen Godziebieski. In 2011 it acquired Rugby Architectural Products, sold in 2016 to Hardwoods Distribution Inc.

“Although we would have preferred to give you more notice of this company shutdown, doing so was not feasible,” the letter read. “Tru-Wood sought new funds and/or new business opportunities in an effort to remain open. Unfortunately, we determined on August 16, 2022, that our efforts were unsuccessful, and we are forced to close Tru-Wood completely.”

The Alabama Department of Commerce’s Division of Workforce Development has been contacted to assist displaced employees. The Clay/Calhoun County Workforce Investment Area Office will also offer resources.

Employees will be paid for time worked and will be paid for accrued time off.

According to its website, Tru Cabinetry’s origins date back more than 50 years, although the company was not established as Tru-Wood Cabinets until 1990. It is one of the leading employers in Clay County.

Tru-Wood Cabinetry reportedly saw record growth leading up to 2018, when it expanded output to the Midwest.

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