Home of the Mallory Brand Since 1900
Hopkins Establishes Hopkins Canada Inc.
Blenheim, Ontario, April 17, 2014 – Hopkins Manufacturing Corporation announced that it has established Hopkins Canada, Inc. in Blenheim, Ontario Canada.
“Establishing this location and renaming as Hopkins Canada, Inc. is a natural evolution of our strategy to expand our presence in Canada,” said Bradley T. Kraft, Hopkins’ President and CEO. The company purchased Mallory Industries, Inc. in August of 2013, the leader in winter tools and automotive squeegees in Canada.
“While Blenheim will continue to be known as The Home of the Mallory Brand since 1900, changing the identity reinforces the expanded capabilities of this location, including the in-country availability of other leading Hopkins’ consumer brands,” added Kraft.
“In addition to our flagship Mallory brand, we are making it easier for Canadian and European customers to purchase other Hopkins’ products,” said Mike Williams, the company’s Chief Marketing Officer. “Not only does this improve access to our market-leading consumer brands, the integrated shipping from our Blenheim distribution center will simplify business for our customers and help them be more efficient,” Williams added. To support the roll out of this corporate rebranding initiative, the company has also created a new website identity (www.hopkinscanada.com).
“I’m very excited about the opportunity to enhance service to customers in Canada and Europe,” said Ken Braaten, Hopkins’ Vice President of Sales. “In addition to having local manufacturing and distribution, we also have a dedicated team of sales professionals in Canada,” he added.
About Hopkins Manufacturing Corporation
Headquartered in Emporia, Kansas, Hopkins is a leading manufacturer and marketer of quality, innovative specialized towing products and functional accessories for the automotive and recreational vehicle aftermarkets. Hopkins markets its products under a number of well-recognized brand names, including Sub-Zero® and Mallory® snow & ice tools, Carrand™, AutoSpa™, RainX® and Pacific Coast™ vehicle cleaning products, Mallory® automotive squeegees, Hopkins Towing Solutions® vehicle and trailer wiring and brake control products, FloTool® fluid management products, GoGear® mobile solutions, BrakeBuddy® RV tow brakes, nVISION® vehicle safety products, Juice™ booster cables, 2x4 Basics® garage and patio project kits and Duo™ automotive air fresheners. Hopkins celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2013. The company has been guided by the philosophy that is products will deliver meaningful innovation, performance and value and to the consumer. ONCAP invested in Hopkins in June 2011.
About ONCAP
ONCAP, in partnership with operating company management teams, invests in and builds shareholder value in North American small and mid-size companies that are leaders in their define market niches and possess meaningful growth potential. ONCAP is currently investing from its third fund and is the mid-market private equity platform of Onex.
With offices in Toronto, New York and London, Onex is one of the oldest and most successful private firms. Onex acquires and builds high-quality businesses in partnership with talented management teams. In total, Onex has approximately $19 billion of assets under management, including $6 billion of Onex’s capital, in private equity, credit securities and real estate. Onex invests its capital directly and as the largest limited partner in each of its Funds.
Onex’ businesses have assets of $44 billion, generate annual revenues of $33 billion and employ approximately 232,000 people worldwide. Onex shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the stock symbol OCX. For more information on Onex, visit its website at www.onex.com.
For More Information:
Bradley T. Kraft
President & CEO
(620) 340-8405
Mike Williams
Chief Marketing Officer
(620) 340-8403
