HATFIELD, PA — Two of the industry’s leading sink manufacturers, Franke and Kindred, have united under the Franke Consumer Products, Inc. umbrella, the companies announced.
Franke and Kindred will both be headquartered in Hatfield, PA, and will be headed by Michael Babula, president and CEO of Franke Consumer Products, according to corporate officials.
The newly aligned business entity “will be able to offer a wider choice of styling and more accessible price points, giving it a powerful edge in the industry,” Babula observed.
Franke Consumer Products, celebrating 25 years in the U.S. market in 2006, is a business unit of the Swiss-based kitchen/bath products giant, Franke AG. Kindred is the largest manufacturer of stainless steel sinks in Canada. Together, they form the North American business unit of the Swiss parent firm.
According to Franke Consumer Products, both the Franke and Kindred brands will continue to be marketed exclusively through design professionals, upscale appliance and plumbing wholesalers, and kitchen and bath dealers.
The sales team is being led by James Hutchinson, v.p./traditional sales, and Jay Beaumont, v.p./marketing, according to the company.