Founded in 1929, Woods Industries is North America's largest manufacturer and distributor of extension cords, wire and lighting products. Woods continues to be a leader at retail marketing more than a thousand electrical cords, lights, wiring-related products, surge protectors and multiple outlet devices under a variety of brand names including Woods, Woods Premier, Yellow Jacket and TradesmanTM. In the U.S. alone, an estimated 40 million consumers buy and/or use one or more Woods' products every year.
In December of 1996, Woods Industries, Inc was purchased in whole by Katy Industries, Inc. Katy Industries is a diversified corporation with interests primarily in Electrical/Electronics and Maintenance Products. As part of Katy Industries, Woods' goal is to continue be the low-cost provider of quality products. In addition, Woods and Katy are developing state of the art vendor-managed inventory and information systems to provide the highest quality service to you, the customer.
In June 2001, Katy Industries, Inc. entered into a re-capitalization agreement with KKTY Holding Company, L.L.C. The KKTY holding company is an investment partnership affiliated with Kohlberg & Company, L.L.C., a private merchant banking firm with offices in New York and California. Founded in 1987, Kohlberg & Company, L.L.C. has completed more than 70 acquisitions and re-capitalization transactions in a variety of industries.
Katy's newly formed partnership with the KKTY and Kohlberg & Company gives Woods Industries the support needed to maintain our consistent innovation in product design and marketing. Woods Industries will continue to be the leader you can count on for quality cords, wire, surge protectors and lighting.