Sherrill Manufacturing
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| Liberty Tabletop | |
| Type | Private company |
| Industry | Tableware |
| Founded | 2005 |
| Founders | Matthew Roberts Gregory Owens |
| Headquarters | Sherrill, New York, U.S. |
Key people | Matthew Roberts (President and Chief Executive Officer) Gregory Owens (Retired co-founder) |
| Products | Stainless steel flatware, serving utensils, kitchen tools, drinkware, tabletop products |
| Brands | Liberty Tabletop |
| Website | www |
Sherrill Manufacturing, Inc. (SMI), which operates under the consumer brand Liberty Tabletop, is an American manufacturer of stainless steel flatware and tabletop products headquartered in Sherrill, New York. Founded in 2005 following the closure of Oneida Limited's domestic manufacturing operations, the company manufactures stainless steel flatware, serving utensils, kitchen tools, drinkware, and other tabletop products for consumer, commercial, and government markets.[1][2]
Liberty Tabletop is recognized as the only manufacturer producing stainless steel flatware entirely in the United States.[3][4] The company manufactures its products in Sherrill, New York, using stainless steel produced in the United States.[5]
Following a financial restructuring in 2013, Sherrill Manufacturing expanded its direct-to-consumer business through the Liberty Tabletop brand while continuing government and commercial contract manufacturing.[2] Gregory Owens, who retired from the company in 2025, remains its retired co-founder. Matthew Roberts serves as President and Chief Executive Officer.[6]
Sherrill Manufacturing is a certified HUBZone small business.[4] During National Small Business Week in 2026, the company was one of six American small businesses invited to participate in the White House Small Business Summit. Following the summit, the U.S. Small Business Administration and the General Services Administration announced actions removing foreign-manufactured flatware products from federal procurement listings.[4]
In 2026, Liberty Tabletop introduced a commemorative America250 Servall related to the United States Semiquincentennial.[7]
History
[edit]For more than a century, Sherrill, New York, served as the headquarters of Oneida Limited, once the world's largest producer of stainless steel flatware. Increased competition from lower-cost overseas manufacturers led Oneida to relocate its manufacturing operations abroad in 2004 and close its Sherrill factory, eliminating several hundred jobs.[1]
Former Oneida employees Matthew Roberts and Gregory Owens purchased the factory equipment and reopened the facility in May 2005 as Sherrill Manufacturing, Inc., preserving stainless steel flatware manufacturing in Sherrill.[1][2]
During its early years, the company continued manufacturing flatware for Oneida under an exclusive agreement while expanding into commercial contract manufacturing. Following the expiration of its agreement with Oneida and the effects of the late-2000s recession, Sherrill Manufacturing entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 2010.[2]
The company temporarily ceased production while restructuring its operations, reducing its manufacturing footprint before emerging from bankruptcy in November 2013. After restructuring, Sherrill Manufacturing adopted a direct-to-consumer business model under the Liberty Tabletop brand while continuing government and commercial manufacturing.[2]
During the following decade, Liberty Tabletop expanded its e-commerce business while continuing to manufacture products for government agencies, commercial customers, and institutional food-service operations.[5][6]
Gregory Owens retired from the company in 2025. Matthew Roberts serves as President and Chief Executive Officer.[6]
Manufacturing
[edit]Sherrill Manufacturing produces stainless steel flatware, serving utensils, kitchen tools, drinkware, and custom tabletop products at its manufacturing facility in Sherrill, New York.[6]
Liberty Tabletop products are manufactured in the United States using domestically produced stainless steel.[5] Sherrill Manufacturing supplies consumer, commercial, and government markets, including manufacturing products for military dining facilities and other federal agencies.[3][4]
In 2016, a General Services Administration investigation found that several companies marketing flatware as American-made were importing products manufactured overseas. Following the investigation, Liberty Tabletop became recognized as the only manufacturer producing stainless steel flatware entirely in the United States.[3]
Sherrill Manufacturing is certified through the U.S. Small Business Administration's HUBZone Program, qualifying the company for participation in federal contracting opportunities available to Historically Underutilized Business Zone businesses.[4]
Advocacy for American manufacturing
[edit]Sherrill Manufacturing has advocated for domestic manufacturing and enforcement of federal domestic sourcing requirements.[4]
During National Small Business Week in 2026, Sherrill Manufacturing was one of six American small businesses invited to participate in the White House Small Business Summit. At the summit, company representatives raised concerns regarding foreign-manufactured flatware being offered through federal procurement channels as American-made.[4]
Following the summit, the Small Business Administration and General Services Administration reviewed the claims and announced the removal of foreign-manufactured flatware product offerings from GSA Advantage!, the federal procurement platform. The agencies described the action as part of an effort to strengthen compliance with domestic sourcing requirements, including the Buy American Act and the Trade Agreements Act.[4]
Products
[edit]Liberty Tabletop manufactures stainless steel flatware, serving utensils, kitchen tools, drinkware, giftware, and commemorative products. The company sells products through its e-commerce website and its factory store in Sherrill, New York.[5][6]
In 2026, Liberty Tabletop introduced an America250 commemorative Servall in connection with the United States Semiquincentennial.[7]
Media appearances
[edit]Sherrill Manufacturing and Liberty Tabletop have been featured in national and regional media coverage related to American manufacturing and domestic supply chains.
The company was featured by The New York Times in 2015 in an article about American-made flatware manufacturing.[1] In 2021, Business Insider reported on Liberty Tabletop's growth during supply-chain disruptions affecting imported consumer goods.[5] In 2025, PBS affiliate programming featured Sherrill Manufacturing in a segment on Central New York manufacturing.[6]
Earlier media coverage included appearances on NBC's Today, the History Channel's Modern Marvels, the Discovery Channel's How It's Made, and ABC World News' Made in America series.[8][9]
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 4 Cowley, Stacy (October 21, 2015). "Setting a Made-in-the-U.S.A. Table: Yes, Do Stick a Fork in It". The New York Times. Retrieved July 3, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Sherrill Manufacturing, America's only remaining flatware maker, emerges from bankruptcy with a new focus". Syracuse.com. November 26, 2013. Retrieved July 3, 2026.
- 1 2 3 "America's last flatware maker, CNY firm, wins 'Made in USA' dispute". Syracuse.com. March 10, 2016. Retrieved July 3, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Following White House Small Business Summit, SBA and GSA Take Action to Prioritize American-Made Products in Federal Purchasing". U.S. Small Business Administration. June 12, 2026. Retrieved July 3, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Hartmans, Avery (December 4, 2021). "Sellers of American-made goods are thriving amid supply-chain chaos — but they can't escape labor and cost pressures". Business Insider. Retrieved July 3, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Sherrill Manufacturing". PBS. June 30, 2025. Retrieved July 3, 2026.
- 1 2 "Commemorative America 250 Servall Officially Licensed Product - Mirror Finish with Giftable Box". Liberty Tabletop. Retrieved July 3, 2026.
- ↑ "The hottest housewares made in America". Today. July 5, 2012. Retrieved July 3, 2026.
- ↑ "David Muir Reports: Can You Trust Those 'Made in America' Labels?". ABC News. Retrieved July 3, 2026.