JAB Improves Its Palette with Another Tasty Fabric Editor
August 2, 2000
Bielefeld, Germany - JAB Anstoetz has acquired a minority interest in the 160-year-old German editor Sahco Hesslein from Hans-Herbert Stadt, the former managing director and principal for almost 30 years.
The purchase price was not disclosed.
This is the second acquisition in less than a year of a high-end fabric house by JAB, which purchased Chivasso in 1999.
Executive management of Sahco Hesslein has been in the hands of Chrisroph Häussler since 1996. Since April 1, 2000, Christopher Huscke, nephew of founder Ludwig Fleishmann, has been involved in upper management as well. Sahco will continue to operate independently and with its own identity except in the areas of administration and logistics where JAB hopes to make a mutually beneficial contribution.
Sahco said it achieved an eight percent sales increase in 1999 with an export business of 60 percent of total turnover. Total sales were not disclosed. Häussler and Huscke will work with JAB management, headed by Ralph Anstoetz, JAB managing director. ''With the participation in Sahco Hesslein, we accept the challenge of the global market. The participation will lead to no redundancies in the personnel sector. The locations will remain,'' Anstoetz said.
''We greet the commitment of JAB Anstoetz, as the participation of the European market leader, who will decisively strengthen the future of Sahco Hesslein,'' said Häussler.
Sahco Hesslein employs over 200 people worldwide while JAB has 1300 employees in 60 countries. Founded in 1946, over 45 percent of JAB's sales are in the export market. Sahco is known for its innovative use of natural fibers like cotton, silk wool and linen with unusual weaving and threading effects. It was one of the first companies to use metallic effects several years before the general market. Sahco's fabric collections are created either in-house or with collaborative efforts from important designers. 'Ulf Moritz by Sahco Hesslein' is one of the better-recognized designer/brands in the line.
Sahco Hesslein's line of 400 decorative and upholstery fabrics in 3,000 colors covers modern, classical, avant-garde and contract areas. It has showrooms in Milan, Paris, London, Brussels and Zurich as well as selected representatives worldwide. Bergamo, a subsidiary with 15 separate showrooms, handles the U.S. market.
JAB is noted for its broad line of decorative fabrics and home furnishings including furniture, carpet and upholstery. The acquisition of a minority interest in Sahco gives JAB a firmer grip on the premium end of the market. Also, the Sahco Collection is expected to compliment other JAB product areas with no conflicts or overlap. ''Mutual efforts will occur in the E-commerce sector. Innovative business-to-business solutions will open new opportunities for the specialist trade,'' a JAB spokesman said.
The purchase price was not disclosed.
This is the second acquisition in less than a year of a high-end fabric house by JAB, which purchased Chivasso in 1999.
Executive management of Sahco Hesslein has been in the hands of Chrisroph Häussler since 1996. Since April 1, 2000, Christopher Huscke, nephew of founder Ludwig Fleishmann, has been involved in upper management as well. Sahco will continue to operate independently and with its own identity except in the areas of administration and logistics where JAB hopes to make a mutually beneficial contribution.
Sahco said it achieved an eight percent sales increase in 1999 with an export business of 60 percent of total turnover. Total sales were not disclosed. Häussler and Huscke will work with JAB management, headed by Ralph Anstoetz, JAB managing director. ''With the participation in Sahco Hesslein, we accept the challenge of the global market. The participation will lead to no redundancies in the personnel sector. The locations will remain,'' Anstoetz said.
''We greet the commitment of JAB Anstoetz, as the participation of the European market leader, who will decisively strengthen the future of Sahco Hesslein,'' said Häussler.
Sahco Hesslein employs over 200 people worldwide while JAB has 1300 employees in 60 countries. Founded in 1946, over 45 percent of JAB's sales are in the export market. Sahco is known for its innovative use of natural fibers like cotton, silk wool and linen with unusual weaving and threading effects. It was one of the first companies to use metallic effects several years before the general market. Sahco's fabric collections are created either in-house or with collaborative efforts from important designers. 'Ulf Moritz by Sahco Hesslein' is one of the better-recognized designer/brands in the line.
Sahco Hesslein's line of 400 decorative and upholstery fabrics in 3,000 colors covers modern, classical, avant-garde and contract areas. It has showrooms in Milan, Paris, London, Brussels and Zurich as well as selected representatives worldwide. Bergamo, a subsidiary with 15 separate showrooms, handles the U.S. market.
JAB is noted for its broad line of decorative fabrics and home furnishings including furniture, carpet and upholstery. The acquisition of a minority interest in Sahco gives JAB a firmer grip on the premium end of the market. Also, the Sahco Collection is expected to compliment other JAB product areas with no conflicts or overlap. ''Mutual efforts will occur in the E-commerce sector. Innovative business-to-business solutions will open new opportunities for the specialist trade,'' a JAB spokesman said.
