Outdoor Furniture Maker Woodard Mulling Options

July 9, 2007  by in UnCategorized   

By Home Furnishings Business in Casual Furniture on July 2007 The owners of Woodard, one of the best-known brand names in outdoor furniture, are evaluating strategic options for the company after selling the majority of their golf course and theater operations, according to an announcement Monday.

Chicago-based Woodard has been owned by CC Industries and the Crown family for 20 years and has a history dating back more than 142 years. A press release said the company has been in discussions with potential financial and operating partners, but nothing has yet been finalized.

The release said that Woodard, which includes the Landgrave and Lyon Shaw brands, is “more profitable than ever” and is seeing growth in all segments of the company.

“The management team fully supports the Crown family during this process of evaluation,” said Woodard President Dean Engelage. “We remain focused on current execution and are committed to building on our success is the future. Woodard is well positioned for continued growth and improvement.”

The company has manufacturing facilities in Owosso, Mich., and Hangzhou, China. According to Forbes magazine, which included CC Industries in its ranking of the nation’s largest private companies at 218 last year, the company’s holdings include the truck trailer manufacturer Great Dane and farm equipment maker Bush Hog.