MARTINSVILLE, Va. Hooker Furniture Corporation says it plans to close its Roanoke plant by August because of declining demand for its wood furniture made in the U-S.
The Roanoke plant employs 275 workers — about 20 percent of the company’s total work force.
The company said it will centralize domestic production at its largest plant and warehouse near the company’s Martinsville headquarters.
Hooker said it will offer severance packages to laid-off employees. No workers are expected to be transferred to other company operations.
The company says that industrywide, furniture demand has been shifting toward cheaper imports. Orders and shipment rates for the company’s domestically produced wood furniture have been on the decline, while sales of its imported wood and metal furniture is on the rise.
Copyright 2013 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
