Kalach sees Revman as U.S. pipeline

By Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 2/25/2003 3:29:00 PM

New York — The ceo of Revman's new majority shareholder yesterday vowed that Revman will become even more important to the home textiles industry.

Rafael Kalach, chairman, president and ceo of Grupo Kaltex, acknowledged that the all-stock transaction last month will permit Kaltex easier access to particular home market segments. "We're taking a larger position in the market," said Kalach. "In the very near future, Revman will be more important."

While Revman does not currently have a private label program, Kalach said he would like to see the creation of a private label division. "My intent is to grow, diversify licenses and develop brands," Kalach said.

Kalach also said Kaltex will develop a plan to represent the licenses in Mexico with which Revman currently has agreements. Revman supplies home lines for Tommy Hilfiger, Laura Ashley, P.O.S.H., Echo, Marimekko, Kravat and Nicole Miller. Rich Roman, president and ceo of NY-based Revman, said many of those agreements are already in place.

Despite Kaltex's majority ownership, Kalach said Revman must be able to support itself financially and stand on its own. "It's very important that we maintain our subsidiaries without subsidizing them," he said.

Kalach and Roman reiterated that Kaltex's ownership does not obligate Revman to purchase its fabrics from Kaltex exclusively.