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The Kelly-Moore Paint Co., a leading manufacturer and retailer of premium paints and coatings in the U.S., has been acquired by Flacks Group, a global investment firm based in the U.S. The purchase includes 157 retail stores across California, Nevada, Texas and Oklahoma and manufacturing facilities in Hurst, Texas. The financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
“This is an exciting time for Kelly-Moore Paints,” says Steve De Voe, chairman and CEO of Kelly-Moore Paints. “Our customers are at the center of everything we do and under the ownership of Flacks Group, we will have the resources and ability to continue to innovate and deliver the best products and experiences to our customers in the professional paint industry and remain highly competitive in the marketplace.”
Founded in San Carlos, California, in 1946, Kelly-Moore Paints is one of the nation’s largest independent paint companies, with more than $400 million in annual revenue and over 1,200 employees. The company distributes products through 157 company-managed retail stores and a network of authorized retailers across North America. Kelly-Moore Paints produces its technologically advanced paint products at its manufacturing facilities in Hurst, Texas. Long recognized as “The Painter’s Paint Store!”, the company sells 90% of its products to professional paint contractors and other trade professionals.
“Kelly-Moore Paints is a true legacy brand that resonates across multiple generations,” says Charles Gassenheimer, managing director at Flacks Group. “Since 1946, the company’s high-quality products have exemplified American manufacturing, and its exceptional service has earned the company a loyal customer base. We see this transaction as a platform with the potential for bolt-on acquisitions in the small and mid-size paint spaces.”
Adam Walker, general manager of the Kelly-Moore Paint Dealer Division, has been with the company for over two decades and his enthusiasm for the company’s future and what it offers independent paint retailers has never been stronger.
The recent sale of Kelly-Moore brings more resources to the 76-year-old company, which translates into more support for independent retailers, including expanding ways to serve them, Walker says.
“We’re breathing new life into our dealership program and providing independent retailers with product offerings they need to be more competitive and more profitable,” says Walker. “We listen to what our dealers need and work with them to deliver solutions that enhance their business. We understand that when they are successful, Kelly-Moore is successful.”
