Profile: Lifetime Brands, Inc. (LCUT.O)

Lifetime Brands, Inc. is North America’s resources for nationally branded food preparation, tabletop and home decor products. The Company markets its products under the brand names KitchenAid, Farberware, and Cuisinart. The Company’s products under food preparation include kitchenware, cutlery and cutting boards, pantryware and spices, bakeware and cookware, fondues and tabletop entertaining, functional glassware. The products under tabletop category include flatware, dinnerware, giftware, glassware, tabletop accessories, crystal, serveware and barware. The home decor products include picture frames, wall decor, non-electric lighting, decorative accessories, seasonal decorations and lawn and garden decor. It has two reportable segments: the wholesale segment, which designs, markets and distributes its products to retailers and distributors, and the direct-to-consumer segment, through its Pfaltzgraff and Mikasa Internet Websites and the Company’s Pfaltzgraff mail-order catalogs.

In June 2008, the Company acquired the business and certain assets of Mikasa, Inc. (Mikasa). Its subsidiaries include Mikasa, Pomerantz, Design for Living, Gorham, Grupo Vasconia, S.A.B., Syratech , Pfaltzgraff, Salton, Excel Importing Corp., Gemco, Roshco, Inc. and Hoffritz. The Company’s products are sold in North America to a customer base including mass merchants, such as Wal-Mart and Target; specialty stores, such as Bed Bath & Beyond; national chains, such as JC Penney, Kohl’s, and Sears, department stores, such as Macy’s, warehouse clubs, such as Costco, BJ’s Wholesale Club and Sam’s Club, home centers, such as Lowe’s, supermarkets, such as Stop & Shop and Kroger, and off-price retailers, such as TJX and Ross Stores. The Company also operates Internet and catalog operations that sell the Company’s products directly to the consumer.

The Company sources its products from approximately 475 suppliers located primarily in the People’s Republic of China. The Company also sources products from suppliers in Hong Kong, the United States, Taiwan, Japan, India, Thailand, Italy, Indonesia, Korea, Vietnam, Germany, Czech Republic, Malaysia, Portugal, Colombia, Poland, Turkey, and Mexico. The Company produces its sterling silver products at its leased manufacturing facility in San German, Puerto Rico and fills spices and assembles spice racks at its Winchendon, Massachusetts distribution facility.