The International Casual Furnishings Association (ICFA) for the sixth straight year honored OW Lee with its Manufacturer of the Year Award at Casual Market Chicago in September. The Manufacturer of the Year Award is one of ICFA’s top honors. ICFA members were invited to vote on this award using these…

The Empire Group, the parent company of Empire Comfort Systems (Belleville, Illinois), has purchased majority ownership of SBI, a Canadian manufacturer of wood- and pelletfired heater/hearth products, along with venting. Empire manufactures gas-fired heaters, hearth products, and grills. Both Empire and SBI are family-owned manufacturers, and both have undertaken aggressive…

Big Green Egg’s world headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia, has installed a charging station for electric vehicles. Visitors, grilling enthusiasts, and EGGsperts now have a place to recharge while attending Big Green Egg’s Culinary Center, perusing the Big Green Egg retail center, or visiting the Big Green Egg Museum. Jodi Burson,…

Glen Raven Inc., a global provider of performance fabrics, announced that Allen E. Gant Jr. retired on October 5 as CEO of the family-owned company, founded by his grandfather in 1880. Gant will remain chair of Glen Raven’s operating board. He announced his plans to retire as CEO in 2013.…

TUUCI Worldwide LLC (Miami, Florida), designer and manufacturer of distinctive umbrellas and cabanas, has acquired Pavilion Furniture (Miami). Tom Parker, president of TUUCI, says, “Pavilion represents TUUCI’s first effort via acquisition to leverage its strengths in design, manufacturing, and distribution, and we are excited to welcome its team to our…