S&S Activewear, a provider of apparel and accessories, has acquired alphabroder, a distributor of trade, retail, apparel brands, and branded products. The combined company will better meet the evolving needs of the apparel industry through greater investment in product and brand offerings, employees, and supply chain innovation, according to a release.
The transaction is expected to be completed later this year. Until then, S&S Activewear and alphabroder will continue to go to market under their respective brands and existing distribution channels. A multi-year integration process to maintain sales momentum will be led by Frank Myers, S&S Activewear CEO, and Dan Pantano, alphabroder CEO.
“We are pleased to reach an agreement that unites two great companies and positions the S&S Activewear and alphabroder family of employees, customers, and vendors for long-term growth,” says Frank Myers, S&S Activewear CEO. “With the addition of alphabroder’s dedicated and experienced employee base, strong portfolio of brands, and distribution capabilities, we will not only expand our product offering, but will also accelerate our investment in the customer experience, including our marketing, technology and supply-chain capabilities. Building on S&S Activewear’s 35-year track record of growth, we look forward to welcoming alphabroder to the organization while continuing to strengthen our win-win relationships with our industry partners.”
“We are thrilled to have found a partner in S&S Activewear that shares our customer-centric approach and commitment to investing in the brands, infrastructure, and teams needed to build and strengthen successful long-term relationships,” says Dan Pantano, alphabroder CEO. “alphabroder has created one of the industry’s leading brand portfolios, and together with S&S Activewear, will benefit from an even stronger and deeper supply-chain network backed by integrated marketing and order fulfillment capabilities.”
With the merger, customers including apparel decorators, promotional product distributors, online retailers, team dealers, and lifestyle brands will be offered a wide range of products from premium brands across apparel and branded product categories. S&S Activewear plans to make investments in technology, the integration and expansion of its sales force, its supply chain and distribution capabilities, and the employee experience to create an organization that delivers significant benefits to its customers and industry partners, according to a release. The company also commits to advancing its sustainability efforts, which has included the adoption of solar energy technology, high-efficiency LED lighting, water efficiency, and recycled packaging across the organization.
The combined company says customers will benefit from faster, more accurate order fulfillment and increased inventory across in-demand categories, while improved delivery and transportation logistics support significant savings in carbon emissions. S&S Activewear currently has 12 distribution centers and the ability to serve 99 percent of the US, Canada, and Puerto Rico within two days.
A version of this press release was originally published by S&S Activewear.
