Stonewall Kitchen adds to product line, maintains appetite for acquisitions
Courtesy / Stonewall Kitchen
Stonewall Kitchen, now home to nine brands thanks in part to a string of acquisitions, is launching 62 new products this month, some of which are shown here.
After bulking up on brands and a recent change in ownership, Stonewall Kitchen is releasing 62 new products this month, the York-based company announced Wednesday. It also signaled continued interest in future acquisitions.
The maker and seller of specialty foods, home goods and personal care products changed private equity owners earlier this year when Audax Private Equity sold its majority stake to TA Associates for an undisclosed price. In April, Stonewall Kitchen opened its first Stonewall Home company store at the York campus headquarters.
The company also has been busy with acquisitions, including the purchase of Michel Design Works, of Katonah, N.Y., in November 2021; the Vermont Coffee Co. and the Urban Accents brand of spices, seasonings, sauces and gifts, both acquired in March 2021; and Village Candle, of Wells, in February 2020.
Now with nine brands in its pantry, Stonewall releases new products every January and July, going well beyond its 1991 roots when founders Jonathan King and Jim Stott sold jams and jellies at local farmers' markets.
The newest products include seasonal collections by Village Candle, meatless Urban Accents mixes and five Vermont Coffee flavors, including organic sweet maple and vanilla.
"With our growing family of brands, we're now able to introduce even more interesting flavors, fragrances and gorgeous designs across various categories," said Janine Somers, Stonewall Kitchen's vice president of marketing and direct-to-consumer sales. She noted that the company's Aoili line is one of its fastest-growing categories, and "we don't see that trend changing anytime soon."
Asked whether selective acquisitions will remain the strategy, a spokesperson told Mainebiz, "Stonewall Kitchen intends to continue the company's growth through additional acquisitions and innovative new product launch."
In a 2018 "On the Record" interview with Mainebiz, culinary product developer Michele Cole shared insights into the art and science behind developing new products.
"In the food world, everybody wants something new and exciting," said Cole, who also likened the company's semiannual product launches to having Christmas twice a year.
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