• Astrodyne: The B-to-B cataloger of AC/DC power supplies, DC/DC converters, and external and wall-mount power adapters has been acquired by the Audax Group, a private equity firm. Peter Murphy, president and CEO of Astrodyne, will continue to lead the management team. Terms of the deal weren’t disclosed.
People on the Move
HOME DEPOT: The multichannel home improvement retailer has hired Frank Bifulco as its new senior vice president and chief marketing officer. He’ll be responsible for strategic marketing vision, category marketing and brand development. Bifulco most recently served as chief customer officer and president of Hasbro North America Sales, and will report to Executive Vice President of Merchandising Craig Menear at Home Depot.
ORIENTAL TRADING CO.: This cataloger of party supplies, novelties, toys, children’s arts and crafts, school supplies, home décor, and giftware recently named Sam Taylor as its new CEO. He most recently worked for Hewlett-Packard, where he led the computer company’s global consumer direct business and the HP.com Web site. Prior to joining Hewlett-Packard, Taylor held management positions at Best Buy, Lands’ End, The Walt Disney Co., as well as Bain and Co.
FINANCIAL BRIEF
Green Mountain Coffee Roasters: The Waterbury, Vt.-based coffee marketer/manufacturer/distributor posted an 89 percent increase in net income for its recently completed second fiscal quarter. Bolstered by the success of its Keurig brand of coffee brewers, whose shipments increased 130 percent over the previous year, Green Mountain posted a net income of $6 million in its second fiscal quarter, up from last year’s $3.1 million. Net sales for the second quarter were up 46 percent to $120.9 million compared to $82.9 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2007.
