American Wood Fibers

What American Wood Fibers does

American Wood Fibers (AWF) is a fourth-generation, family-owned manufacturer of wood-fiber products headquartered in Columbia, Maryland, operating 11 production facilities across the continental United States with a workforce of 450+ employees. Founded in 1966 as Eastern Wood Fibers by Frank and Joy Faehner in Jessup, Maryland, the company converts secondary wood by-products into value-added goods including animal bedding (equine, livestock, small pet), wood fuel pellets for residential heating, hardwood grilling pellets, organic potting soils, industrial wood flour, and bulk biomass fuels. AWF pioneered the small-animal bedding category in 1984 and was the first company to qualify both hardwood and softwood fuel pellets under the Pellet Fuels Institute (PFI) Standards Program in 2013. The company runs four consumer sub-brands (America's Choice, PetsPick, American Wood Fibers, Heritage Organics) and also offers raw materials trading, toll processing, contract manufacturing/private label programs, and transportation services through wholly-owned AWF Express LLC (30 drivers, 24 tractors, 500+ trailers).

AWF's commercial model spans three integrated layers. First, branded consumer packaged goods are sold through major retail chains (Walmart, Tractor Supply Co, Ace Hardware), a dealer/distributor network, and direct e-commerce, organized under four sub-brands targeting distinct end uses. Second, a B2B contract-manufacturing and private-label business produces nationally branded grilling pellets, fuel pellets, cat litter, pet bedding, and equine bedding for retailers and distributors on a multi-year contract basis. Third, an industrial channel sells wood flour (softwood and hardwood in 10-140 mesh sizes), bulk wood shavings, biomass/boiler fuel, and toll processing directly to composite, paper, filtration, foundry, ceramics, and chemical-carrier manufacturers. Pricing is quote-based across all segments, with annual production exceeding 500,000 tons, over 15 million wood-shavings bales, and 1+ billion pounds of wood by-products processed. Distribution leverage comes from the vertically integrated AWF Express trucking fleet and 11 manufacturing ship-points coast-to-coast, providing reliable delivery and structural cost advantages.

Name

American Wood Fibers

Legal name

American Wood Fibers, Inc.

Website

https://awf.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1966

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

American Wood Fibers is a fourth-generation, family-owned manufacturer of wood-fiber products (animal bedding, fuel/grilling pellets, wood flour, potting soils) operating 11 U.S. plants and serving consumer, retail, and industrial customers through four sub-brands and contract manufacturing.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wood Fiber Products and Animal Bedding

NAICS

Wood Product Manufacturing (321), Other Wood Product Manufacturing (3219)

SIC

Lumber & Wood Products (No Furniture) (2400), Wholesale-Lumber, Plywood, Millwork & Wood Panels (5031)

akta.pro primary industry

Pellet & Wood Fuel Manufacturing (IMAMABAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Pulp & Wood Fiber Trading (IMAMAIAE), Recycled Fiber, Recovered Paper & Secondary Fiber Trading (IMAMAIAK)

Keywords

• Wood fiber manufacturing
• Animal bedding products
• Wood fuel pellets
• Pet bedding materials
• Industrial wood flour

Headquarters

HQ city

Columbia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices12 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Personnel, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Consumer Packaged Goods Sales: Sale of branded products including animal bedding, pet bedding, grilling pellets, fuel pellets, and potting soils through retail distribution
2. Private Label Manufacturing: Contract manufacturing for nationally-recognized retailers and distributors - exclusive brand programs with manufacturing expertise, packaging design, and regulatory compliance
3. Toll Processing: Custom fiber processing services from small sample quantities to large truckload jobs with multiple packing options including bulk bags and compressed bales
4. Raw Materials Trading: Buying and selling of wood fibers, shavings, sawdust, wood chips, paper fibers, and agricultural fibers
5. Transportation Services (AWF Express): Full-service transportation company with 30 drivers, 24 tractors/trucks, and 500+ trailers for bulk cargo hauling

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

American Wood Fibers manufactures and distributes wood fiber-based products including animal bedding, small pet bedding, hardwood grilling pellets, PFI-certified wood fuel pellets, organic potting soils, and industrial wood flour. The company also operates contract manufacturing (private label programs), toll processing, raw materials trading, and AWF Express transportation services across 11 manufacturing sites in the continental U.S.

Product overview

American Wood Fibers is a family-owned wood fiber manufacturing company founded in 1966, operating as a multi-product specialty forestry products manufacturer with 11 production facilities across the continental US. The company offers a diverse portfolio organized under four sub-brands: America's Choice (animal bedding and grilling pellets), PetsPick (small pet bedding), American Wood Fibers (wood fuel pellets), and Heritage Organics (organic potting soils). Core products include various animal bedding formats (wood shavings in multiple flake sizes, pellets, paper bedding), wood fuel pellets for heating (hardwood and softwood), hardwood grilling pellets in multiple flavors, organic gardening products (potting soil, compost, worm castings), and industrial wood flour products for composites and manufacturing. The company also provides services including private label manufacturing, toll processing, raw materials trading, and AWF Express transportation logistics.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• America's Choice: Animal bedding and grilling pellets brand featuring 100% all-natural wood products including softwood shavings and pellet bedding options for horses and livestock, as well as hardwood pellets for grilling.
• PetsPick
• American Wood Fibers
• Heritage Organics

Products and services

• Paper Pellets Naturally absorbent small animal litter made from pre-consumer paper, providing eco-friendly and easy-to-clean bedding with 14 days of odor control for small pets.
• Red Cedar Bedding Naturally absorbent red cedar bedding for larger pets including dogs and horses, with fragrant wood fibers that repel fleas, ticks, flies, and mosquitoes.
• Pine Bedding Kiln-dried natural pine shavings with fresh pine scent, suitable for large and small pets; absorbs up to 2x its weight.
• Uber Paper Bedding Award-winning, food-grade shredded paper bedding with 14-day odor control, ideal for gerbils, hamsters, guinea pigs, rabbits, ferrets, and chinchillas.
• Large Flake Animal Bedding Large shaved flake bedding for shows, fairs, trailers, livestock, and foaling with quick clean-out and insulation properties.
• Medium Flake Animal Bedding Medium-sized flake bedding perfect for shows, fairs, trailers, livestock, and transportation with heat-dried natural softwood.
• Mini Flake Animal Bedding

Quantifiable outcome

• 15,000,000+ wood shavings bales produced annually
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Nature's Earth PelletscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 November 2020AWF selected Scotland County, NC for a new manufacturing site, expanding into a facility previously operated by Nature's Earth Pellets in Laurinburg. $19.5 million investment creating 51 jobs to produce wood pellets for fuel, bedding, and barbeque markets.
• Lost Coast Forest ProductscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 February 2015AWF acquired Lost Coast Forest Products in February 2015. LCFP was a market leader and national supplier of USDA approved, kiln dried packaged firewood and accessories. Integration expanded AWF's product assortment to include firewood, kindling, and holiday forest products.
• California Wood ShavingscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011AWF purchased California Wood Shavings in Jamestown, CA, located near Highway 108 and J-59. The facility provides bedding materials used by local equestrians and horse shows. AWF plans to continue operations and expand.
• Mountain Wood ProductscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2007AWF purchased Mountain Wood Products in Sugar Grove, VA in 2007. Plant was relocated to Marion, VA in 2009.
• Red Cedar of NebraskacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1996AWF purchased Red Cedar of Nebraska in 1996, expanding cedar bedding product capabilities.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Lignetics: Lignetics is the largest wood pellet manufacturer in North America, producing premium hardwood and softwood fuel pellets, BBQ pellets, and animal bedding products. It directly competes with AWF across fuel pellets, grilling pellets, and bedding categories at national scale.
• Carefresh: Carefresh (a brand of Healthy Pet / The J.M. Smucker Company) is a leading paper-based small pet bedding brand. It directly competes with AWF's PetsPick Uber Paper Bedding line for hamsters, guinea pigs, rabbits, and other small animals through major retail channels.
• Kaytee: Kaytee (owned by Central Garden & Pet) is a major small animal bedding and pet care brand offering wood shavings and paper bedding products. It competes directly with AWF's PetsPick small pet bedding line across retail and e-commerce.
• Energex: Energex is a North American wood pellet manufacturer focused on premium residential heating pellets. It competes with AWF in the fuel pellet category and shares similar raw material processing capabilities and end customers.
• New England Wood Pellet: New England Wood Pellet is a regional premium hardwood fuel pellet manufacturer serving the Northeast US residential heating market. It is directly comparable to AWF's PFI-certified hardwood fuel pellet product line on quality positioning and end-market.
• Standlee Premium Western Forage: Standlee is a premium animal bedding and forage producer serving equine and livestock owners. It competes directly with AWF's America's Choice equine and livestock bedding brands on quality and absorbency positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Bear Mountain BBQ: Bear Mountain BBQ is a premium hardwood grilling pellets brand owned by Traeger Grills. It competes with AWF's grilling pellet lineup (Apple, Hickory, Mesquite, Pro-Blend) for shelf space at Walmart, Tractor Supply Co, and specialty BBQ retailers.
• Traeger Grills: Traeger is a vertically integrated pellet grill manufacturer that also sells branded grilling pellets. As a broader incumbent in the grilling category, Traeger competes with AWF's grilling pellet line through brand-led, owned-channel distribution.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/AmericasChoiceGrillingandBedding

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about American Wood Fibers