Fall River’s Merrow Manufacturing expands, acquires company

Merrow, a 183-year-old, 8th-generation family-owned company based in Fall River, MA, with centuries-long expertise in sewing and textiles, has expanded its wholesale supply business by acquiring the assets and business operations of Superior Sewing Machine & Supply LLC. Through this acquisition, Merrow positions itself as the largest wholesale supplier of technical parts and supply items for the sewn products industry in the Western Hemisphere.

Incorporated in 1949 and in its 72nd year in business, Superior will join the 183-year-old Merrow Group Companies with a mission to invest in its distribution network and introduce new lines of products that improve the efficiency and profitability of manufacturing operations worldwide.

Superior Sewing will be run as an independent company with its Headquarters in Fall River, MA and offices in Miami and Los Angeles. It is fully committed to providing independent dealers and distributors worldwide with extraordinary customer service, one-stop shopping and the largest portfolio of in-stock products in its marketspace.

In 2020, Superior Sewing’s sales grew 20% in the third and fourth quarter, with annualized improvement despite the pandemic. Charlie Merrow, CEO of Merrow says, “We anticipate a recovery in the sewn products industry in ’21 and ’22, with revenue growth of 15-20% year over year.” Superior’s sales and purchasing teams will be continuing with the company, and manage its growth.

Lonny Schwartz, President of Superior Sewing says “Charlie, Owen and I believe that the combination of Superior and Merrow will create substantial synergies, provide for even greater quality control and bring new innovative products to Superior’s product offerings, all while providing the same Superior service and support we have been providing since 1949.”

The Merrow Group Companies are comprised of four distinct business units: manufacturing operations, brand and product, medical, and wholesale supply. The strategic move to incorporate Superior Sewing solidifies Merrow’s investment in its wholesale division.
The two companies have synergy in product, market and personnel. “Merrow’s sales in 2020 encompassed 87 countries worldwide and present the team at Superior new opportunities for distribution” says Charlie Merrow.

Merrow Group Companies’ investment in manufacturing operations provide unique insight into the demands on soft good production. Merrow says, “Factories will retool to become more competitive. This will incorporate both machines and technology. Superior will be the best company on the planet, arming its distribution with the products that make factories around the world more efficient and productive.”

Merrow continues “The team at Superior will have access to new product lines, new facilities (including the 300k sq. foot HQ in Fall River) and the expertise that Merrow has developed in industry. But most importantly, Superior’s customers and suppliers will have access to the same extraordinary Superior team they’ve worked with for generations.”

The expansion will create new jobs in Fall River. If you are interested in working for Merrow, you can apply here.