Southern Sales buys Meadowcraft assets

Will enter outdoor furniture category

-- Casual Living, 10/1/2009 12:00:00 AM

Southern Sales & Marketing Group has acquired assets of Meadowcraft, formerly the nation's largest manufacturer of wrought iron outdoor furniture, and plans to add the outdoor furniture category, Southern Sales CEO Mark Traylor said.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for Southern Sales,” Traylor said. “We have been the category leaders in just about every category of outdoor living products, except for outdoor furniture. This acquisition fills a hole in our line and will take Southern to the next level. We can now completely outfit a consumer's outdoor living space from furniture and umbrellas to planters, fountains, statuary and wind chimes.”

The purchase includes manufacturing and warehousing space in Wadley, Ala., along with state-of-the-art manufacturing and powder-coating equipment, various raw materials and finished goods, and the Meadowcraft trademarks and design patents. The plant will be owned and operated under the name of Wadley Holdings, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Southern Sales & Marketing Group, Inc.

On March 20, an involuntary petition for reorganization under Chapter 11 bankruptcy was filed against Meadowcraft, Inc. On Sept. 14, a sale order was entered by the bankruptcy judge in the case, approving the sale.

“Meadowcraft furniture has been one of a select few outdoor furniture manufacturers that has a sterling reputation for high quality, well-designed pieces,” Traylor said. “We plan to continue in that tradition, and to become the leader in this category as we have in so many others.”