CoCaLo inks deal with Grant

AT THE NEW YORK MARKET — As part of its recent acquisition by infant bedding specialist CoCaLo, Kimberly Grant & Co. has signed an exclusive design agreement to continue its signature watercolor and linen designs.

Also as part of the deal, Jack Gessford, president of Kimberly Grant & Co., will become the vp, operations of CoCaLo. The Costa Mesa, CA-based company's brand lineup already includes Osh Kosh B'Gosh and Baby Martex.

"We at CoCaLo are thrilled and excited to be associated with Kimberly Grant," said founder and president Renee Pepys Lowe. "The Kimberly Grant brand will bring a nice diversity to CoCaLo and will enhance our business with the specialty stores. The thought and creativity behind the brand stays the same; we just have the ability to grow bigger and better together, which will bring more opportunities to our retailers and ultimately the consumer," said Lowe.

Gessford said, "This is a great marriage. Kimberly Grant has been growing so rapidly, and CoCaLo has the infrastructure and marketing capabilities to support our growth and volume."

CoCaLo will debut Kimberly Grant's newest collections this spring at the JPMA's 2002 International Juvenile Products show in Dallas.