Kiss Kent Marine Goodbye? - Kent Got Bought!

[OscarBeast]

http://www.homechannelnews.com/story/index.htm?ID=3344

It seems that the assets of Kent Marine were purchased by a company called Central Garden & Pet. I wonder if Kent products will still be around under the same name or what is going to happen exactly. Anyone hear anything else about this?

[PureSalty]

I doubt they change anything. Like most businesses they are looking at the bottom line $ and if they change the name they would lose that $.

[ianstein]

Kent Marine was purchased by Central Garden and Pet. Central is a large pet distributor and they own several manufactures such as All Glass Aquariums and Oceanic Systems. Jack Kent is still President and the only changes will be a new owner and more abilities to get the product line out to retail shops easier.

[Frick-n-Frags]

Good to hear that.

[Sloth]

Huh. Maybe now we'll see more reasonable prices on the pickling lime and the baking soda.

[Daniel411]

Originally posted by Sloth
Huh. Maybe now we'll see more reasonable prices on the pickling lime and the baking soda.

Don't give out their trade secrets! lol

[OscarBeast]

The problem comes in when a company buys another for the use of its name and to obtain the customer base that have brand loyalty to the purchased company. Then the new company has the option of slapping the name of the company they bought on their own (possibly inferior) product and people buy it simply because it says “such-and-such� brand on the label. I am not saying this is what has happened at all, but this is something that worries me when things like this happen.

[kevinpo]

Central Garden and Pet does not label anything with their name on it. They are only a distributor of other companies products. It makes it much easier for LFS to order and deal with one or two distributors than with dozens of manufacturers. It also enables the LFS to keep the costs down when you can buy enough product from the distributor to qualify for the free shipping. Where in the case of purchasing from the mfg. often it is not possible to qualify unless you are a large LFS.

Regards,
Kevin

[VaderWS6]

Originally posted by PureSalty
I doubt they change anything.

Yeah, just like when Marineland bought Aquarium Systems. Anyone check the quality of the Maxi-jet powerheads lately?

[Joe_Bui]

It seems Central Pet is migrating from being a distributor to a manufacturer. They have been buying companiese up right and left. I guess they weren't making much money as a distributor. Word has it that they are trying to unload the Garden side of their business. Now they can say that they make tanks and additives, and who knows what else?? Not a bad way to make a buck. They already have their distribution channels set.

[OscarBeast]

Originally posted by kevinpo
Central Garden and Pet does not label anything with their name on it.

Of course they wouldn't. That would be counterproductive and would not be using the existing customer base of any name brand they purchase. If they purchased Kent for this reason, they would continue to put the Kent label on all of the Kent products and possibly put the Kent label on some of their own products. That is smart business and it happens all the time. Again though, I am not saying this is what has happened here.