Manufacturing Today Issue - 244 January 2026 | Page 88

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How Kellex’ s design-to-install model is transforming American furniture manufacturing

Established with a vision to craft exceptional furniture and provide positive employment opportunities for local people, Kellex has grown from humble beginnings over the last thirty years, and continues to expand across North Carolina, Ohio, and Mississippi. Today, Kellex stands as one of the largest family-owned American furniture manufacturers, recognized across the industry for its craftsmanship, reliability, and commitment to doing things the right way.

“ When I think back to where Kellex started it still amazes me,” opens Founder and President, Chris Rice.“ We began in Norwalk, Ohio, with just three of us working above a garage, and our commitment to people and partnership has shaped every step of our growth. We opened our first corporate office in North Ridgeville, then expanded our sales presence to Duluth, Georgia, before ultimately moving to Hickory, North Carolina, where we’ re still deeply rooted today. A major milestone was acquiring Hickory Hill Furniture’ s 355,000-square-foot facility in Valdese, North Carolina, complete with a sawmill and full frame and upholstery operations. Later, we added our 97,000-square-foot manufacturing plant in Tupelo, Mississippi, which strengthened our ability to serve customers quickly and at scale.”
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