Since 1962, A&F Souvenir (A&F) has provided souvenir options to gift shops at national parks, zoos, museums and other exciting attractions, and now the company will be able to better meet growing demand. with a new production facility and warehouse based in the United States. in West Chester Township, Ohio, located in the greater Cincinnati area. This new facility will allow A&F to produce custom products with more flexibility, lower minimums and faster lead times for customers.

“We are very pleased to expand our physical operations in the United States,” said Michael Atkinson, president of A&F Souvenir. “This transaction will make A&F the only company in the souvenir industry to have facilities in Canada and the United States. It will be a benefit for customers in both countries and provide them with the best delivery and prices. »

“This transaction will make A&F the only company in the souvenir industry to have facilities in Canada and the United States. It will be a benefit for customers in both countries and provide them with the best delivery and prices. – Michael Atkinson, President of A&F Souvenir

The new facility will include warehousing as well as production of hard and soft goods. Not only will this new facility provide customers with more flexibility around high-quality custom products, but it will also allow A&F to continue to focus on sustainable business practices and environmentally friendly products while keeping prices low. A&F Souvenir was purchased by 1M Group, LLC in January 2020. According to company representatives, the team’s mission is to become the industry’s premier supplier and most environmentally conscious quality souvenir company. market environment.

“For us, it’s not just about product composition,” said Kip Zsupnik, CEO of 1M Group, LLC. “Becoming the most environmentally friendly company on the market means that we consider the environment with every item we sell. So even if the product is not currently made from an eco-friendly material, we can still make an impact. For example, reducing or eliminating single-use plastic in product packaging and reducing our carbon footprint with shorter shipping distances.

The new facility is expected to open in late spring 2022 with Cody Eldredge, former sales manager at A&F, taking the helm as vice president of operations for the new facility.

“I am very excited about being part of the local Cincinnati community, expanding the A&F business in the United States and creating jobs in the area,” said Eldredge, “I have enjoyed my stay in the area since my move in January.”

Support for the project was provided by JobsOhio through its Economic Development Grant enabling A&F to create jobs and support West Chester Township and larger Cincinnati communities.

“At REDI Cincinnati, we appreciate the opportunity to work with our partners in JobsOhio and West Chester Township to help A&F grow in the Cincinnati area,” said Brandon Simmons, vice president of project management. by REDI Cincinnati. “A&F is a leading producer of custom products with a strong focus on reducing environmental impacts. West Chester and the Cincinnati area are within half a day’s drive of 60% of the US population, allowing A&F to reduce delivery times and minimize environmental impacts.

A&F products are custom made, designed by real artists, and they’re affordable to ship anywhere in the US and Canada.

Interested in more travel gifts? Check out “Vacation Mode: Freebies for Tropical Travel” or find out which freebies the GDA editorial team can’t travel without.