SBI and Edgell Communications merge
Stagnito Business Information, Deerfield, Ill., and Edgell Communications, Randolph, N.J., announced that the companies have merged. Their combined assets and brands will make the new company a comprehensive b-to-b information, media, and marketing resource serving retailers and their supplier/distributor partners in the North American grocery, convenience, big-box retail, specialty/apparel, hospitality and pharmacy markets.
The new company will operate under the Stagnito Business Information and Edgell Communications names in the short term, with a new corporate brand to be announced in the future.
Gerry Ryerson, president and CEO at Edgell, and Harry Stagnito, president and CEO at Stagnito, are succeeded by Kollin Stagnito, COO at Stagnito, who will take over as CEO of the combined company. Ryerson is retiring and Harry Stagnito is taking a seat on the newly formed board of directors.
The merger was driven by private equity investor RFE Investment Partners, New Canaan, Conn. Its participation will allow Stagnito and Edgell to develop more powerful products and services for their audience and customers, through future acquisitions as well as organic growth.
RFE also helped facilitate the formation of the new board, attracting executives with a wealth of media, b-to-b communications and retail industry experience. In addition to Harry Stagnito, board members include Alan Glass, former Chairman, president and CEO at Commonwealth Business Media and Jim Casella, former chairman and CEO at Asset International and Vice Chairman at Reed Business Information. Glass will be the new company’s executive chairman, with Kollin Stagnito reporting to him.
Stagnito and Edgell brands that focus on vertical markets in the U.S. include Progressive Grocer, Convenience Store News, Hospitality Technology, MURTEC conference, The Gourmet Retailer, and Apparel. Horizontally focused brands serving all retail markets include RIS News, Consumer Goods Technology, Retail Leader, Store Brands, Multicultural Retail 360 Summit, and Carbonview Research.
Brands focused on vertical markets in Canada include Your Convenience Manager, Convenience Central, The Convenience U CARWACS Shows, and Pharmacy Business.
“We are well on the way to creating the definitive Retail Business Intelligence resource for retailers, retail suppliers, and technology vendors,” said Kollin Stagnito. “The combined companies will inform, connect, and provide predictive analysis for retailers, retail suppliers, and technology vendors through custom and syndicated research, data, media, and events.
"Customers will have access to business intelligence throughout the retail product lifecycle—from initial consumer interest to final shopper satisfaction—including product creation, marketing, and distribution; category management; retail merchandising; and point of sale,” he added. “Other media, research, and data companies provide parts of this solution today, but no company has connected the dots to allow those involved in retail to find solutions to all their challenges in one place."
JEGI, a leading independent investment bank for the global media, information, marketing, software and tech-enabled services sectors, represented Stagnito and Edgell in the pre-packaged merger and sale to RFE.