J.R. United acquires former Davidson embroidery factory

By Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 11/26/2002 2:03:00 PM

Miami — International Terry Products, affiliate and sister company to towel importer J.R. United Industries Inc., recently purchased defunct Davidson Cotton's embroidery and embellishment factory in Matamoros, Mexico, and relocated equipment from that facility to its company headquarters here.

The acquisition represents a new business initiative for J.R. United as well as its first factory.

"It's a piece of the towel business that we've never been in, but this will give us the opportunity to be a serious player, immediately, because the capacity is there," Salo Grosfeld, president, International Terry Products and J.R. United, told HTT. "We feel the opportunity to go into the embellished and embroidery business is very exciting and another way for us to stay competitive."

Grosfeld said the company, which historically focused on jacquard and fiber reactive bath and beach towels, will use the blanks it imports from Brazil, China, Colombia, India and Pakistan and elsewhere for the new line of embroidered and embellished towels in an effort to expand the breadth of its offerings, as well as step up product price points.

The official launch of product will be in January, Grosfeld said. At that point, the company will be prepared to debut 50 to 60 different styles encompassing up to three price points ranging from $9.99 to $19.99.