By Bethany Fuller  / Lynchburg News & Advance
Bedford-based Sam Moore Furniture is officially part of Hooker Furniture Corp.


The Martinsville-based furniture importer and distributor recently completed its acquisition of the company from La-Z-Boy Inc. for an undisclosed amount of money.

The sale, which was announced in February, is part of La-Z-Boy’s consolidation, according to a La-Z-Boy news release.

“They were interested in divesting themselves of it,” said Larry Ryder, Hooker Furniture executive vice president of Finance and Administration. “For them, Sam Moore really didn’t fit. Sam Moore fits the bill perfectly for us.”

“Sam Moore, a 63-year-old company owned since 1998 by La-Z-Boy, is positioned in the upper-medium price range, has a similar dealer base and is a niche- and item-oriented line like Hooker,” according to a La-Z-Boy Inc. news release.

Ryder said it is Hooker Furniture’s intention to keep Sam Moore’s management team, including President Mike Moldenhauer, and the bulk of its 288 employees.

Moldenhauer was unavailable for comment Wednesday.

Ryder said until the sale, Hooker specialized in importing and distributing case good furniture. He said the upholstery company will allow Hooker to offer another level of service to its customers.

According to the terms of the letter of intent, the acquisition included a cash purchase of all the Sam Moore assets, which include property, plant, equipment, inventories and accounts receivable. Sam Moore’s assets include an approximately 325,000-square-foot production facility and corporate offices in Bedford.