Frey Brothers merging with Coast of Maine Organic Products

Frey Brothers (Quarryville, Pa.) and Coast of Maine Organic Products (Portland, Maine) are announcing that the companies have merged. Both are manufacturers of soils and mulches, supplying recognized consumer brands to over 2,000 retail outlets across New England and the Mid Atlantic. Both companies will be led by their existing management teams, supported by an investment from Gemini Investors.

Coast of Maine was established in 1996 and produces organic garden soils and fertilizers. Their unique compost-based soils, using ocean and farm sourced inputs, have built a consumer brand that resonates with organic gardeners. Sales and marketing is focused on developing in-depth, long-term relationships with a broad and diverse base of independent lawn and garden retailers. They also produce a line of own-brand soils for master nursery garden centers in the east, a national buying co-op bringing together many of the nation’s prominent independent garden centers.

“We are delighted to be able to merge Coast of Maine with Frey Brothers and continue our growth with independent retailers in New England, the Mid-Atlantic and beyond,” says Carlos Quijano, founder and president of Coast of Maine.

Frey Brothers is a third generation family business established in 1966 in Southern Lancaster County in the heart of the Mid Atlantic and continues to be led by members of the Frey family. With roots in farming, logging and timber, Frey first expanded into bulk hardwood mulch and then bagged bark mulches and soils for both consumers and professional greenhouse and nursery growers. Frey offers a broad range of products under the Frey, Frey’s, Twin Oaks and Four Corners brands with professional mixes being the fastest growing segment of the business. These products can be found at independent lawn and garden retailers from Vermont to Virginia.

“As a family held company this is a big positive move for us,” saysJamie Kreider. “Frey has wonderful relationships with our customers and we are pleased to have the additional resources and marketing support to expand our product reach.”