Stonewall Kitchen will close its Village Candle manufacturing site in Wells

three wood-shingled buildings and garden courtyard

File Photo Stonewall Kitchen, whose flagship campus in York is shown here, said it will close its Village Candle manufacturing facility in Wells.

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By Alexis Wells

Stonewall Kitchen LLC, a York-based specialty food producer, plans to close its candle manufacturing facility in Wells in June 2026.

The move is part of a new partnership between Stonewall Kitchen and Alene Candles, a manufacturer in Milford, N.H., that will handle production of Village Candle-branded products.

Ann Marie Borgesi, senior vice president of human resources and safety at Stonewall Kitchen told Mainebiz that 32 of the 40 jobs at the site would be ended next year.

The closure comes after a evaluation of the current operations, industry trends and customer expectations, Stonewall said.

“Our top priority has always been delivering high-quality, beautifully crafted candles that bring joy to our customers,” Don Kerrigan, CEO of Stonewall Kitchen, said in a prepared release. “This transition allows us to access new technologies, scale production more efficiently and invest more in design and innovation that sets our products apart.”

The Wells facility is expected to cease operations by June 2026, but Stonewall said that production at the Alene site will ramp up immediately to ensure a smooth and uninterrupted supply chain.

Kerrigan said the company is "fully committed to supporting our employees during this transition and helping as many as possible continue to grow their careers with the Stonewall Kitchen Family of brands.”

Stonewall Kitchen was founded in 1991 by partners Jonathan King and Jim Stott, who established the Stonewall Kitchen brand by selling jams and jellies at local farmers markets. Headquartered in York, it has grown to be a leading specialty food, home goods and personal care producer.

The company is owned by a Boston-based private equity firm, TA Associates and has locations in Portland and Kittery.