Lifetime Brands Buys Fred & Friends

GDA Staff -- Gifts and Dec, 1/22/2013 11:09:41 AM

 CUMBERLAND, R.I. - Lifetime Brands has acquired Fred & Friends (F & F), manufacturers of novelty housewares and other products under the Fred brand.

The housewares company acquired the business and certain assets of Easy Aces Inc., which operates under the name Fred & Friends, on Dec. 21; terms of the acquisition were not announced. Fred products include fun kitchen tools, tabletop accessories, party goods, personal accessories, desk and technology products that are distributed through independent specialty stores, as well as some select major retailers and small chains in the U.S. and Canada.

"Our very motivated and talented team looks forward to becoming a part of Lifetime," said Frederick A. Roses, founder, F & F. "We'll get to keep doing what we're best at—designing products that put smiles on peoples' faces and working with our designers, suppliers and customers. And let the folks at Lifetime take care of the rest."
Jeffrey Siegel, chairman, president and CEO, Lifetime Brands, added, "Lifetime's access to international markets in Europe, Mexico, Brazil and China provides opportunities to introduce Fred products into new markets and distribution channels. At the same time, Lifetime will benefit from F&F's strong relationships with independent specialty stores, which should enable Lifetime to increase distribution of our recently introduced Savora line of unique upscale kitchen tools and gadgets, which is targeted to this retail segment."