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RIEDEL BUYS SPIEGELAU

Published:  23 July, 2008

By Jack Hibberd

Riedel Crystal has bought the parent group of its main rival in the premium wine glass sector, Spiegelau. The deal for German-based FX Nachtmann doubles the turnover of the Austrian glass manufacturer and turns it into the world's largest producer of wine glasses, with 1,900 employees and a turnover of 220 million. Nachtmann's other brands include Nachtmann itself and Marco Aurel. Riedel said that the company will continue to produce glasses under the Spiegelau brand (which are priced at just under the equivalent Riedel machine-blown glasses) and are looking at ways to integrate the two ranges. It is very much an open book at the moment, as the acquisition has literally just taken place,' said Steve McGraw, managing director of Riedel UK. There will certainly be no immediate changes and the plan is to look at each individual market separately and assess the best route to develop the two brands. The acquisition gives us a very wide-reaching portfolio, spanning virtually all price points.' Georg Riedel, 10th generation of the Riedel family and head of the company, commented: It is my goal to re-establish the integrity of Nachtmann and its brands, making it a successful European company'. Nachtmann's chairman, Walter Franck, will remain involved in the company as a consultant. Riedel said there are no plans for redundancies at present.

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