Furniture Manufacturer Moves Canadian Plant Operations

Workers at Prepac Manufacturing in Delta, B.C., are the latest casualties of ongoing trade instability, as the company ceases manufacturing operations at its Canadian facility.

The shutdown began March 14, with maintenance activities continuing until all workers are severed by May.

Prepac, a North American manufacturer of ready-to-assemble home furniture sold at retailers including Walmart, Target, Amazon and Home Depot, was founded in Vancouver 46 years ago as a pre-finished product manufacturer, providing custom printed and finished particleboard shelving for the building industry. It remained locally owned until its 2019 acquisition by TorQuest Partners, a private equity firm. The company expanded operations in 2020, with a fourth facility in Delta to accommodate growth, followed by the opening of a North Carolina facility in 2021.

Unifor, Canada’s largest private sector union, has condemned the closure, calling it an act of corporate disregard for workers and communities.

“It’s a slap in the face to Canadian workers and Canadian consumers who have made this company a success since 1979,” says Gavin McGarringle, western regional director for Unifor. “We will be calling a boycott of Prepac products nationwide. This is another example of equity firms stripping companies for profit with no regard for jobs, community or, frankly, decency.”

Unifor represents 32,000 workers across major sectors of the Canadian economy, advocating for labour rights, equality and social justice. The union is expected to take further action in response to the Prepac closure as part of its ongoing efforts to protect manufacturing in this country.

Prepac remains a leading North American designer, manufacturer and drop shipper of ready-to-assemble home furniture, specializing in bedroom, home office, living room, media storage, entryway and utility storage solutions. However, the closure of its Canadian facility marks a significant shift in its operations, further highlighting the impact of trade uncertainty and corporate restructuring on domestic manufacturing jobs.