FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Legacy Companies To Open Distribution Center in Paris, Kentucky

FRANKFORT, Ky. (June 26, 2018) – Gov. Matt Bevin today announced The Legacy Companies, a leading food service and consumer appliance company, will locate in an existing facility in Bourbon County with a nearly $6.7 million investment that will create 60 full-time jobs.

“Kentucky has an ever-increasing presence in the food and beverage sector, and The Legacy Companies will be a tremendous addition to the industry in our state,” Gov. Bevin said. “The jobs created through this investment will positively impact individual families, the Bourbon County community, and the surrounding Bluegrass region. We look forward to celebrating Legacy’s continued growth and success in the commonwealth.”

Legacy plans to locate in a 277,000-square-foot building on Cleveland Drive in Paris in response to organic growth and recent acquisitions. Since 2009, the company has grown from 75 employees to over 500 with sales in excess of $250million. The Kentucky location will allow the company to better serve a large percentage of its customers, as well as lower logistics costs and time to market. Legacy anticipates adding jobs immediately to the area upon purchase of the new facility which is expected to happen on Monday, July 2, 2018. The company anticipates the facility will be fully operational with three months of purchase.

“This move will help expand our capabilities and also allow us to be more centrally located for our existing customer base,” said Neal Asbury, CEO of The Legacy Companies. “This DC is an impactful asset that provides added opportunity for us to offer and deliver better customer service than ever before. As we settle in, we will be adding more people to the staff and we are excited about that too.”

Sen. Stephen West, of Paris, noted that the project reflects the potential of the local workforce.

“I would like to offer a warm welcome to The Legacy Companies as the company joins our community in Senate District 27,” Sen. West said. “This investment truly speaks volumes about the workforce climate in our region, and I know Paris and the surrounding communities looks forward to The Legacy Companies’ success in Bourbon County and beyond.”

Rep. Sannie Overly, of Paris, said the community has all the necessary tools to ensure the company’s success.

“I’m proud to welcome The Legacy Companies to our community and want to thank its leaders for investing here and creating these new jobs,” Rep. Overly said. “Having the company locate in an already-built structure makes this announcement even better, because that will make it easier to get its operations underway. This news is also further proof that we offer everything a thriving business could want.”
Paris Mayor Mike Thornton said it was a team effort to make the project a reality.

“The City of Paris is excited to continue partnering with the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development and Bourbon County Fiscal Court to announce another economic development opportunity for our community,” Mayor Thornton said. “It is a privilege to welcome The Legacy Companies to Paris, and Bourbon County, and our team at the City of Paris looks forward to helping them grow and build on their previous successes. The resources that Legacy brings to our community not only creates much needed employment opportunities for our residents but offers an exciting new concept for Paris. I am excited for the future growth of The Legacy Companies and welcome them as our next community partner.”

Bourbon County Judge-Executive Mike Williams said the arrival of The Legacy Companies will greatly benefit the local economy.

“The Bourbon County Fiscal Court is very happy to welcome The Legacy Companies to our county as our newest corporate citizen. We look forward to partnering with them to help our community grow and prosper,” Judge-Executive Williams said. “Great jobs are essential in our plans to encourage an entire generation to work and live in Bourbon County. The Legacy Companies provides yet another inspiration for those residents and their families. We’re excited that they will bring their prominence and expertise to our industrial park to enhance the growing reputation that our county has for world class food service industry stalwarts. We welcome The Legacy Companies with open arms and look forward to helping their transition to Bourbon County be as smooth and trouble free as possible.”

Gordon Wilson, executive director of the Paris-Bourbon County Economic Development Authority, said the community stands ready to ensure the success of its latest business venture.

“The Paris-Bourbon County Economic Development Authority (PBCEDA) is excited that The Legacy Companies has chosen Paris and Bourbon County as home for an expansion of their successful operations,” Wilson said. “This project will boost our local economy and provide new career opportunities for our talented workforce. Through collaboration and hard work, the PBCEDA, Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development, Bourbon County Fiscal Court and the Paris City Commission provided The Legacy Companies the location, resources and incentives needed to ensure the success of their expansion. The PBCEDA is dedicated to providing The Legacy Companies and all our industrial companies with an ally that will promote a strong business climate and dedicated service.”

To encourage the investment and job growth in the community, the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority (KEDFA) in April preliminarily approved the company for tax incentives up to $600,000 through the Kentucky Business Investment program. The performance-based incentive allows a company to keep a portion of its investment over the agreement term through corporate income tax credits and wage assessments by meeting job and investment targets.

In addition, Legacy can receive resources from the Kentucky Skills Network. Through the Kentucky Skills Network, companies can receive no-cost recruitment and job placement services, reduced-cost customized training and job training incentives. In fiscal 2017, the Kentucky Skills Network provided training for more than 120,000 Kentuckians and 5,700 companies from a variety of industry sectors.

About The Legacy Companies
The Legacy Companies, a privately owned company with a strong track record of acquiring and growing companies, is a leading food service and consumer products company that designs, manufactures and markets, nationally and internationally, a diverse portfolio of products under world-class brands such as Back-to-Basics®, Bevles®, Blakeslee®, ChefsChoice®, EdgeCraft®, Excalibur®, General®, Greenfield WorldTrade, Kold-Draft®, Maxximum®, Nautilus®, Omega®, WestBend®, Yonanas® and Zeroll®. The Legacy Companies is headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, FL. More information can be found on the Web at www.TheLegacyCompanies.com.
A detailed community profile for Bourbon County can be viewed here.

Information on Kentucky’s economic development efforts and programs is available at www.ThinkKentucky.com. Fans of the Cabinet for Economic Development can also join the discussion on Facebook, follow on Twitter and watch the Cabinet’s “This is My Kentucky” video on YouTube.
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MEDIA CONTACT
Contact: Meagan Bradley
(954) 202.7419
MBradley@TheLegacyCompanies.com

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Legacy Companies Announces Eric Nelson as New Chief Financial Officer

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL – April 30, 2018

The Legacy Companies today announced that Eric Nelson will join the company as its Chief Financial Officer on May 22, 2018.

As CFO, Eric will have responsibility for accounting, finance, financial planning and analysis, mergers and acquisitions, legal and human resources. He will report to Neal Asbury, Chief Executive Officer at The Legacy Companies and Greenfield WorldTrade.

“Eric has worked with fast growth and distressed companies, both public and private, including valuation, negotiation, due diligence, conventional funding, rapid-expansion and turn-around,” said Asbury. “He is the type of executive we look for at Legacy. Someone with a unique blend of experiences that will fundamentally strengthen our organization as we continue to transform and grow.”

“I am excited to be joining Neal and the team at The Legacy Companies as we continue to tackle the goals set forth,” Nelson said. “Legacy’s financial strength paired with its talented team provides the opportunity to expand and ultimately achieve on-going success.”

Nelson is a Certified Merger and Acquisition Advisor, Certified Public Company Director in NASDAQ, Certified Financial and Valuation Modeler and a Certified Turnaround Professional. He has held Executive leadership roles at public and private companies and private equity firms. Nelson is a founding partner with consulting firm The SCA Group, LLC and has been CFO, COO and turnaround specialist of public company DubLi; VP, Partner and group CFO for private equity group Sun Capital Partners; SVP, CFO of public company West Marine, Dental Components Inc., Fluid-Air Components, and Etcetera. Nelson earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Portland State University has advanced strategic and operational training from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, UCLA, Purdue, Northwestern, Loyola, American Management Association, National Investor Relations Institute and the SEC Institute Inc.

Nelson takes over from long-serving CFO, Donald Cumming.

About The Legacy Companies:

The Legacy Companies, a privately owned company with a strong track record of acquiring and growing companies, is a leading food service and consumer products company that designs, manufactures and markets, nationally and internationally, a diverse portfolio of products under world-class brands such as Back To Basics®, Bevles®, Blakeslee®, Chef’sChoice®, Excalibur®, General®, Greenfield WorldTrade, Joseph Heinrichs®, Kold-Draft®, Maxximum®, Nautilus®, Omega®, Vinturi®, West Bend® Yonanas® and Zeroll®. The Legacy Companies is headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, FL. More information can be found at www.TheLegacyCompanies.com.

MEDIA CONTACT
Contact: Meagan Bradley
(954) 202.7419
MBradley@TheLegacyCompanies.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Avondale, PA; March 6, 2018-The Chef’sChoice® brand is updating its image with a bold new logo and contemporary, consumer-centric packaging design. The logo, brand positioning and packaging architecture will make its official debut at the 2018 Housewares Show in Chicago, March 10-13.

Since 1985, Chef’sChoice has been on the sharper side of sharp and a leader in knife sharpeners and the small electrics category. The new look is a modern evolution of a premiere and well-established brand.

The logo incorporates the brand’s well-known orange and red colors and commemorates its legacy in knife sharpening by depicting a sharp slice going through the letters. Bold and fluid, it embraces our history while conveying market leadership and a brand in forward motion.

Meagan Bradley, Vice President of The Legacy Companies, said “We love the heritage of Chef’sChoice and it’s something we wanted to keep. We just modernized it to appeal to our existing consumer and a new generation.” Bradley commented further that the simple wordmark looks better on screens; crisp at small sizes particularly when it appears just a few pixels high on a phone screen and just as crisp at large sizes.

The simplified packaging architecture with distinct segmentation creates a more decisive shopper experience. “The new packaging reflects the brand’s continued commitment to quality, advanced-engineered product solutions and innovative technology. It’s fresh, and more customer focused.” says Val Gleason, Director of Marketing.

The new logo launches March 10, 2018 and the new packaging will appear in national retail channels that carry the Chef’sChoice brand starting Fall 2018.

About The Legacy Companies:

The Legacy Companies, a privately owned company with a strong track record of acquiring and growing companies, is a leading food service and consumer products company that designs, manufactures and markets, nationally and internationally, a diverse portfolio of products under world-class brands such as Back To Basics®, Bevles®, Blakeslee®, ChefsChoice®, Excalibur®, General®, Greenfield WorldTrade, Joseph Heinrichs®, Kold-Draft®, Maxximum®, Nautilus®, Omega®, Vinturi®, West Bend® Yonanas and Zeroll®. The Legacy Companies is headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, FL. More information can be found on the Web at www.TheLegacyCompanies.com.

About EdgeCraft:

Headquartered in Avondale, PA, EdgeCraft Corporation was launched in 1985 with the introduction of the first Chef’sChoice® model 100 electric knife sharpener, which was immediately acclaimed worldwide for its performance and quality. Today, the company is recognized as an undisputed world leader in the production of the most technologically advanced sharpeners on the market, as well as high-quality food slicers, grinders, waffle makers, grills and hot beverage products. For more information visit chefschoice.com.

Houseware Show Attendees: Visit Lakeside Booth #11302

MEDIA CONTACT
Contact: Valerie Gleason
610.268.0500, ext. 124
Cell: 302.275.2277

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Legacy Companies announces today that it has entered a co-branding partnership with zzysh®, based in Murten, Switzerland. Under this agreement, zzysh® will be sold and marketed in North America under
The Legacy Companies’ Vinturi® brand as zzysh® by Vinturi®.

“This is an exciting partnership and further enhances our global leadership positioning in the wine aerator, wine and sparkling wine preserver and accessories markets,” says Neal Asbury, CEO of The Legacy Companies. “We’ve all faced it. You want to enjoy a glass of wine but you don’t want to polish off the bottle in one evening. With zzysh® you can drink a portion of the bottle and enjoy the rest later with the same tasting notes weeks apart.”

zzysh®, an innovative wine and champagne preservation industry leader, is widely acclaimed for its use of industrial wine and food preserving technologies practiced worldwide by winemakers and the food industry for years. zzysh®, the unique Swiss technology replaces the air in an opened wine bottle with 100% food-grade argon gas to protect from oxidation and quality. For sparkling wine, the opened bottles get pressurized with argon/CO2 gas to keep the flavor and the fizzy sensation. Established in 2009, zzysh® is the brainchild of entrepreneur and founder Manfred Jüni, whose vision was to create a product able to preserve the taste and freshness of beverages and food in a simple, easy way. Headquartered in the idyllic Swiss town of Murten (where the idea was first born), zzysh® is favored by wine and champagne lovers all around the world.

“The partnership with Vinturi® will allow zzysh® to be enjoyed by even more consumers in North America, says Jüni. “Through the Vinturi® partnership we offer a complete product lineup for the best and longest-lasting wine and champagne tasting experiences. zzysh® by Vinturi® is the perfect wine and sparkling wine pairing and will be a game changer for consumers looking to enjoy their wine with products that enhance and prolong their enjoyment,” he adds. Visit www.zzysh.me for more information about zzysh®.

Established in 2007 in Carlsbad, California, Vinturi® was the first venturi-driven, handheld aerator.
Vinturi’s patented technology is designed to infuse the perfect amount of oxygen to interact with wine as it is poured through the chamber. Today, Vinturi offers a complete line up of wine essentials including bottle openers, corkscrews and stoppers. Enjoy your wine from the very first sip with Vinturi wine aerators and accessories. Visit www.vinturi.com for more information.

The Legacy Companies, a privately owned company with a strong track record of acquiring and growing companies, is a leading food service and consumer products company that designs, manufactures and markets, nationally and internationally, a diverse portfolio of products under world-class brands such as Back To Basics®, Bevles®, Blakeslee®, ChefsChoice®, Excalibur®, General®, Greenfield WorldTrade, Joseph Heinrichs®,
Kold-Draft®, Maxximum®, Nautilus®, Omega®, Vinturi®, West Bend® Yonanas and Zeroll®.
The Legacy Companies is headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, FL. More information can be found on the
Web at www.TheLegacyCompanies.com.

MEDIA CONTACT
Meagan Bradley
(954) 202.7419
MBradley@TheLegacyCompanies.com

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Fort Lauderdale, FL – March 3, 2017

The Legacy Companies (“Legacy”) has acquired wine and spirit aerator developer Vinturi from Focus Products Group International, LLC (“Focus”). The wine accessories company will be added to Legacy’s housewares group of brands that includes Chef’sChoice, EdgeCraft, Excalibur Dehydrators, Nautilus, Omega Juicers and Blenders, West Bend, Yonanas and Zeroll.

Vinturi debuted its first aerator, the Vinturi Red Wine Aerator, in 2007. The aerator has a patented design that speeds up the breathing process by aerating in the time it takes to pour a glass of wine. The company has grown its wine accessories assortment with a number of other products, including a white wine aerator, the Vinturi Tower, the Vinturi Spirit and more.

“The Vinturi brand represents quality and innovation. It is a dynamic, global category-leading brand that holds patents for useful products,” said Neal Asbury, CEO of The Legacy Companies. “To add another product line to Legacy that combines form and function for an overall improved consumer experience represents our continued commitment to delivering superior and functional products.”

Mr. Asbury continued that this is an exciting time for Legacy, noting there is a potential for more acquisitions in 2017. Vinturi is Legacy’s sixth acquisition since May of 2016.

The Legacy Companies

The Legacy Companies is a leading food service and consumer products company that designs, manufactures and markets, nationally and internationally, a diverse portfolio of products under world-class brands such as Bevles®, Blakeslee®, Chef’sChoice®, EdgeCraft®, Excalibur®, General®, Greenfield WorldTrade, Kold-Draft®, Legion®, Maxximum®, Nautilus®, Omega®, Orien, Vinturi®, West Bend®, Yonanas® and Zeroll®. The company’s corporate website is www.TheLegacyCompanies.com.

Focus Products Group International, LLC

Focus is a national provider of leading brands in Bath and Home Fashion for both retail and commercial accounts. The Company’s brands include Sure Fit®, Patio Armor®, Hookless®, Arc & Angles®. The company’s corporate website is www.focuspg.com.

MEDIA CONTACT
Meagan Bradley
(954) 202.7419
MBradley@TheLegacyCompanies.com

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Fort Lauderdale, FL – March 3, 2017

The Legacy Companies today announced the acquisition of Yonanas Consumer Retail Division from Winston Products, LLC. Yonanas is a natural fit within The Legacy Companies’ portfolio of health and wellness brands that includes Omega Juicers and Blenders, Excalibur Dehydrators, and Nautilus Water Distillers.

In 2010, the Yonanas concept was born with the product launch officially taking place in 2011. Today, Yonanas has sold over 3 million units around the world. It is a premier lifestyle brand for an increasingly health-conscious global population.

“Yonanas strengthens our commitment to developing and marketing innovative products that foster good health and well being,” said Neal Asbury, CEO of The Legacy Companies. “From the beginning, Yonanas has been synonymous with fun, delicious, healthy desserts. Our goal is to continue to strengthen the brand, develop new products and enhance distribution around the world.”

“I’m extremely excited about the future with The Legacy Companies. We have two companies that truly understand the health conscious consumer and have had success in several product categories,” says Eileen McHale, co-founder of Yonanas.

About The Legacy Companies

The Legacy Companies is a leading food service and consumer products company that designs, manufactures and markets, nationally and internationally, a diverse portfolio of products under world-class brands such as Bevles®, Blakeslee®, Chef’sChoice®, EdgeCraft®, Excalibur®, General®, Greenfield WorldTrade, Kold-Draft®, Legion®, Maxximum®, Nautilus®, Omega®, Orien, West Bend®, Yonanas® and Zeroll®. The company’s corporate website is www.TheLegacyCompanies.com.

About Yonanas:

Yonanas (a product of Healthy Foods, LLC) turns frozen fruit and other flavorings into a delicious, healthy soft-serve treat. The unit combines frozen bananas and any additional fruit or chocolate and instantly churns the ingredients to produce a treat with the texture of frozen yogurt or soft-serve ice cream. More information can be found at www.Yonanas.com.

About Healthy Foods LLC

Launched in 2009 as a division of Winston Products, LLC, Healthy Foods, LLC is a product development company based in Cleveland, OH. This high growth company is dedicated to creating innovative products that allow people to live healthier lives. Healthy Foods’ first product to market is the Yonanas frozen fruit dessert maker. Yonanas creates a healthy treat with the look and feel of soft-serve ice cream with 100% fruit in seconds. For more information, visit www.yonanas.com.

MEDIA CONTACT
Meagan Bradley
(954) 202.7419
MBradley@TheLegacyCompanies.com

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Fort Lauderdale, FL – March 3, 2017

The Legacy Companies (“Legacy”) today announced the acquisition of the West Bend Electrics Division from Focus Products Group International, LLC (“Focus”). Established in 1911, West Bend Electrics has grown to be a leading global supplier of small kitchen appliances and housewares products.

“This strategic acquisition enhances Legacy’s offering of well-known and longstanding brands with significant growth potential,” said Neal Asbury, CEO of The Legacy Companies. “Additionally, it strengthens Legacy’s global position as a leading housewares manufacturer and distributor,” he continued.

The West Bend facilities in West Bend and Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin will continue operations with the existing sales and service staff. Legacy plans to add support from Legacy’s sales, product marketing and technical services divisions.

Legacy currently operates six manufacturing and distribution facilities in Florida, (2) Pennsylvania, Georgia, California and QingDao, China. The acquisition of West Bend further develops Legacy’s distribution channels and positions the company for additional growth domestically and internationally.

The Legacy Companies

The Legacy Companies is a leading food service and consumer products company that designs, manufactures and markets, nationally and internationally, a diverse portfolio of products under world-class brands such as Bevles®, Blakeslee®, Chef’sChoice®, EdgeCraft®, Excalibur®, General®, Greenfield WorldTrade, Kold-Draft®, Legion®, Maxximum®, Nautilus®, Omega®, Orien, and Zeroll®. The company’s corporate website is www.TheLegacyCompanies.com.

Focus Products Group International, LLC

Focus is a national provider of leading brands in Bath and Home Fashion for both retail and commercial accounts. The Company’s brands include Sure Fit®, Patio Armor®, Vinturi®, Hookless®, Arc & Angles®. The company’s corporate website is www.focuspg.com.

MEDIA CONTACT
Meagan Bradley
(954) 202.7419
MBradley@TheLegacyCompanies.com

 

Fort Lauderdale, FL – February 13, 2017 – Omega Juicers®, a recognized leader in the juicer, blender and beverage appliance business, today announced that its Juice Cube will be featured as one of 30 Most Innovative Products in Beautiful Kitchens & Baths magazine, part of the Luxury Home Design Group at Meredith Corporation.

The judging panel consisted of a group of editors from Luxury Home Design, Better Homes & Gardens and Traditional Home. Judges looked for innovation, style and design with high-tech features.

The list of products will be featured in the spring issue of the magazine, on sale March 14, 2017.

Omega was also recognized for this achievement at the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS), Las Vegas, Nevada January 10 -12, 2017.

“We are honored to be listed amongst Better Homes and Gardens Beautiful Kitchens and Baths’ Most Innovative Products of 2017,” said Tim Fields, President of Omega. “Our team spends a tremendous amount of time testing our own products, listening to consumer’s feedback and researching all types of appliances to ensure Omega continues to deliver useful innovation.”

For more information regarding Omega Juicers’ Juice Cube visit www.omegajuicers.com.

About Omega Juicers

Headquartered in Harrisburg, PA. Since 1985, Omega has developed many of the most efficient and reliable juicers available, proudly offering all styles of juicing equipment from its “One Stop Shop for All Your Juicing Needs.” Today, the company is recognized as an undisputed leader in the production of juicers, as well as high-quality blenders and beverage equipment. For more information visit www.OmegaJuicers.com.

About The Legacy Companies

The Legacy Companies, a privately owned company with a strong track record of acquiring and growing companies, is a leading food service and consumer products company that designs, manufactures and markets, nationally and internationally, a diverse portfolio of products under world-class brands such as Bevles®, Blakeslee®, ChefsChoice®, Excalibur®, General®, Greenfield WorldTrade, Kold-Draft®, Legion Industries®, Maxximum®, Nautilus®, Omega®, and Zeroll®. The Legacy Companies is headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, FL. For more information visit www.TheLegacyCompanies.com.

Media Contact:
Meagan Bradley, Vice President, 954.202.7419
MBradley@TheLegacyCompanies.com

Transaction expected to close within 45 days

Fort Lauderdale, November 18, 2016: The Legacy Products Companies (“Legacy”) and Focus Products Group International, LLC (“Focus”) announced today that they have entered into a letter of intent by which Legacy would acquire the West Bend Electrics division of Focus. Focus, founded in 2001, is a growth oriented national provider of leading brands in Bath and Home Fashion for both retail and commercial accounts. Focus is a portfolio company of Centre Lane Partners, LLC.

“We are pleased to announce our intent to acquire the West Bend Electrics division, our 4th acquisition in 2016. West Bend meets our criteria of well-known and longstanding brands with significant growth potential,” said Neal Asbury, CEO of The Legacy Companies. Marc Navarre, Focus’s President and CEO, said, “We are pleased to see the West Bend Electrics division, with such a rich history in the housewares arena find an excellent home with Legacy allowing us to concentrate on our Textiles business.”

The parties intend to sign a definitive purchase agreement within the next [45] days and close the transaction upon signing. The transaction is subject to the parties entering into a definitive purchase agreement for the acquisition.

The Legacy Companies

The Legacy Companies is a leading food service and consumer products company that designs, manufactures and markets, nationally and internationally, a diverse portfolio of products under world-class brands such as Bevles®, Blakeslee®, Chef’sChoice®, EdgeCraft®, Excalibur®, General®, Greenfield WorldTrade, Kold-Draft®, Legion®, Maxximum®, Nautilus®, Omega®, Orien, and Zeroll®. The company’s corporate website is www.TheLegacyCompanies.com.

Focus Products Group International, LLC

Focus is a national provider of leading brands in Bath and Home Fashion for both retail and commercial accounts. The Company’s brands include Sure Fit®, Patio Armor®, Vinturi®, Hookless®, Arc & Angles®. The company’s corporate website is www.focuspg.com.

Contacts:
The Legacy Companies
Meagan Bradley, Vice President, 954.202.7419

Focus Products Group International, LLC.
Julie Muduryan, Communication Manager 224.513.2007

Fort Lauderdale, FL – July 29, 2016 – The Legacy Companies today announced that it has completed the acquisition of Qingdao Orien Commercial Equipment Co., a leading developer and manufacturer of ice machines and refrigeration equipment. Qingdao Orien has over 150 employees based in Qingdao, China and exports products to countries around the globe.

“Orien is one of the most notable ice machine and refrigeration manufacturing facilities in China with significant scale opportunities,” said Neal Asbury, CEO of The Legacy Companies. “Orien brings The Legacy Companies strong R&D, quality and manufacturing operations; an exceptional quality control team; and sustainable advantages that will allow us to offer more options to our customers in the fast-growing ice machine and refrigeration segments. This is a great complement to our made in the USA Kold-Draft line of ice machines.” He went on to add “With Orien we also get an extensive sales and service network in China for delivering a multitude of Legacy products produced in the United States to the fast growing China market.”

Established in September 1999, Qingdao Orien Commercial Equipment Co., Ltd. was founded by a newly-emerged high-tech enterprise of the group Qingdao AUCMA Group Commercial Appliance Factory. The successful endeavor led Orien to become one of the first Chinese ice maker manufacturers exporting to the United States.

Today, Orien has grown to become a premier OEM Chinese manufacturer of high quality commercial and household ice makers and ice merchandisers. The commercial ice machine product line includes self-contained ice makers with internal ice storage bins as well as modular ice maker heads. Orien’s commercial ice makers have daily ice making capacities up to 2,000lb and household ice makers range in daily capacity from 25lbs up to 130lbs. In addition to its core product line, Orien produces wine coolers, beverage centers and refrigerators for both indoor use and outdoor applications like outdoor kitchens, barbecue setups, and entertaining areas.

“Orien has prided itself on producing exceptional quality products from the beginning,” said Jinfu Zhang, General Manager of Orien. “By incorporating our products and manufacturing capabilities with The Legacy Companies, we are confident and excited about the future.”

About The Legacy Companies

The Legacy Companies, a privately owned company with a strong track record of acquiring and growing companies, is a leading food service and consumer products company that designs, manufactures and markets, nationally and internationally, a diverse portfolio of products under world-class brands such as Bevles®, Blakeslee®, ChefsChoice®, Excalibur®, General®, Greenfield WorldTrade, Kold-Draft®, Legion Industries®, Maxximum®, Nautilus®, Omega®, and Zeroll®. The Legacy Companies is headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, FL. More information can be found on the Web at www.TheLegacyCompanies.com.

About Qingdao Orien Commercial Equipment Co:

Qingdao Orien Commercial Equipment Co., Ltd. located in Qingdao, China develops three series of products: ice makers, bottle coolers, catering refrigerators and freezers. The Orien facility offers advanced inspection equipments, production equipments, and experimental facilities and supplies many types of ice makers ranging from 11kg to 500kg per day and also design to customers’ specific requirements.