La Z Boy to close Colne factory.
La Z Boy has confirmed it will close its UK manufacturing facility in Colne, Lancashire, with production due to stop by the end of April 2026. The decision follows a formal consultation with employees that began on October 29, 2025, and the company says the site will wind down in phases.
The Colne facility employs around 125 people. La Z Boy said a range of ideas were considered during consultation, but none were enough to make the plant commercially viable long term.
What it means for Colne, Nelson, Burnley, and Clitheroe
For East Lancashire, this is not just a headline about a brand name, it is about local livelihoods and day to day spending in towns that are closely connected. Colne and Nelson sit side by side, Burnley anchors the wider M65 corridor economy, and Clitheroe and the Ribble Valley draw in shoppers from across Lancashire and the Northwest.
When a factory role disappears in Colne, the ripple can be felt across nearby high streets, trades, suppliers, and services that depend on steady local employment. For households, it can also affect confidence and discretionary spending on big ticket items such as sofas and suites.
How Colne became part of La Z Boy’s UK story
Colne’s role grew after La Z Boy acquired Furnico Furniture in 2021, a Lancashire business that had been manufacturing La Z Boy recliners under licence. At the time, the move was positioned as a way to strengthen regional manufacturing capability and support supply into the UK market.
In late 2025, the tone shifted. Industry coverage around the consultation pointed to weak order volumes and difficult trading conditions in furniture manufacturing, with La Z Boy citing sustained operational challenges at the Colne site.
Will La Z Boy sofas still be available in the UK
La Z Boy says wholesale supply into the UK and Ireland will continue through its global manufacturing network, even as the Colne plant winds down. In plain terms, customers should still expect to see La Z Boy sofas available through retailers, but more product is likely to be sourced from outside Lancashire rather than built locally in Colne.
What shoppers should ask before buying
If you are shopping for quality sofas in Lancashire and the Northwest, whether from a local sofa store or a large sofa warehouse, it is worth asking a few practical questions before you place an order. Ask where the exact model is being produced, what the current lead time is today, and what the aftersales support process looks like if anything needs attention after delivery.
