Berkline/BenchCraft Announces Manufacturing Changes

Furniture World Magazine

Berkline/BenchCraft, LLC, announced that it has added an additional manufacturing line at its Blue Mountain, MS facility to support growing capacity needs and implemented an overhead reduction in its support departments to improve the efficiency and cost effectiveness of its operation. The Company recently announced strategic initiatives, which have included the closure of its Baldwyn, MS facility and the consolidation of production from its Ripley, MS facility into Blue Mountain, only nine miles apart. These changes will result in approximately two million dollars of annual savings to the Company plus increase the capacity of the 3rd shift at Blue Mountain, MS facility by twenty-five percent. According to Bill Wittenberg, President and CEO of Berkline/BenchCraft, LLC, "The competitive environment in the furniture industry and our commitment to our customers requires us to continuously improve the organization and its structure. All recent organizational changes at our Company have been well planned and executed. These improvements are a healthy and positive exercise that will results in a more efficient and cohesive Company. We will continue to make aggressive and positive changes to our business model in order to better serve our customers and continue to be the leader in the upholstery industry." Berkline/BenchCraft, LLC maintains its corporate headquarters in Morristown, Tennessee. The company manufactures and markets the Berkline, BenchCraft, and Natural Elements family of home furnishings brands.