Cree Lighting Announces Long-Term Strategic Manufacturing Agreement to Strengthen Capacity and Restore Delivery Performance
February 26, 2026 – Racine, WI – Cree Lighting, a U.S.-based innovator and manufacturer of high-performance LED lighting, today announced a long-term contract manufacturing agreement with a highly regarded U.S. lighting manufacturer specializing in industrial and harsh environment applications.
In recent months, Cree Lighting has experienced supply chain constraints and limited manufacturing capacity related to its ongoing financial restructuring. In response, the company has taken decisive action to strengthen its operational foundation and restore service levels for customers.
The new manufacturing agreement is a critical component of Cree Lighting’s recovery plan.
Under the agreement, the manufacturing partner will provide scalable manufacturing support for Cree Lighting’s core product lines, including area and flood, streetlights, and canopy lighting, enabling Cree Lighting to maintain the robust performance and stringent quality standards customers have come to expect.
“This partnership marks a pivotal step forward,” said Sabu Krishnan, President of Cree Lighting. “We recognize the impact recent constraints have had on our customers and partners. Our immediate priority is to substantially reduce our backlog of unfulfilled orders and restore predictable lead times. By entering into this strategic manufacturing contract with a proven manufacturing leader, we can scale quickly and cost-effectively without compromising the quality, engineering rigor, or reliability that define the Cree Lighting brand.”
Immediate Focus: Backlog and Lead-Time Recovery
Production coordination under the agreement will begin immediately, with dedicated capacity allocated to accelerate the fulfillment of existing orders. The companies will implement production planning, quality assurance oversight, and supply chain integration to expedite output while maintaining strict performance standards. Backlog reduction efforts are expected to materially improve delivery timelines over the coming quarter, with measurable improvements in on-time performance anticipated as capacity stabilizes.
Commitment to Existing Supplier Partners
Cree Lighting also reaffirmed its strong commitment to its long-standing supplier partners.
Within the next two weeks, the company will roll out a structured plan to address historic trade credit obligations and strengthen vendor relationships as part of its broader financial and operational stabilization efforts.
“Our suppliers have been critical partners in building the Cree Lighting brand,” Krishnan added. “We are committed to honoring those relationships. The strategic manufacturing relationship is not about replacing or creating redundancy within our supply base. It is about restoring manufacturing capacity so that we can return to consistent order volumes and meet our commitments to customers and to our vendors.”
Cree Lighting confirmed that its existing suppliers will continue to serve as preferred providers for Cree Lighting products. The company’s recovery plan includes restoring normalized purchasing patterns and reinforcing long-term collaboration with its established vendor network.
Long-Term Strategic Alignment
While the immediate objective is capacity recovery, the agreement is structured as a long-term strategic collaboration. Following backlog normalization, the partnership will transition into a sustained production model designed to support consistent, scalable output, improve cost efficiency and operational resilience, strengthen supply chain, and ultimately, enable future growth initiatives.
Cree Lighting will continue to oversee product engineering, quality standards, and final validation processes to ensure continuity and performance consistency.
“This is not a short-term fix,” added Sabu Krishnan. “This is a foundational step to ensure we are stronger, more resilient, and better positioned to serve our customers well into the future.”
About Cree Lighting
Cree Lighting is a U.S.-based innovator and manufacturer of high-performance LED lighting for petroleum, roadway, and commercial applications. With over four decades of experience and millions of fixtures installed across North America and beyond, Cree Lighting delivers trusted quality and solutions that help communities thrive, day and night. Visit CreeLighting.com for more information.
Media Contacts
Carrie Martinelli
Marketing Communications
Phone: (919) 395-0307
Email: cmartinelli@creelighting.com