North Brunswick, New Jersey-based mattress manufacturer Bedding Industries of America has acquired a majority interest in independent mattress producer Illinois Sleep Products Inc., based in Chicago.
The company will be rebranded BIA Midwest. The current management team, in addition to its 100-plus employees, will continue in their positions.
ISP has been a licensee of BIA brands for nearly seven years. Edward Ciolkosz and his wife, Susan, formed ISP in 1986. Ed Ciolkosz will remain an active partner in the business and will continue to oversee the day-to-day operations of its 240,000-square-foot showroom, office, manufacturing and distribution complex. Other senior executives continuing in their current roles include Ed and Sue’s family members: Nancy Ciolkosz, Cindy Ciolkosz-Davis and Zachary Davis.
“We have targeted the Midwest as an important area of growth for our brands,” said Stuart Carlitz, BIA president and chief executive officer. “Ed is an outstanding manager who I’ve known for decades, and I’m very excited to welcome him and his family into our company. We look forward to offering their customers all the support and capabilities that we have to offer. I thank Ed and Sue for building an amazing business and look forward to beginning this new and exciting chapter for all of our combined employees, customers and suppliers.”
Ed Ciolkosz said: “I have had the pleasure of developing a relationship with Stuart and his team over the length of my career, and the decision for us to join together was an important one for our customers and employees. They are the right people to continue the legacy my family has built. From the start of the acquisition, our two families, each deeply rooted in the mattress industry, have come together to make the transition swift and smooth. I look forward to working alongside their team.”
For BIA, the transaction adds significant capacity to its group of owned and licensed factories. BIA will be expanding ISP’s certified organic brand, Harvest Green Mattress, as well as continuing to produce the Englander brand for the Midwest. The Chicago plant will be expanding its production of BIA’s existing collections, including Eastman House, Eclipse, Hemingway, Natural Dreams and Velika.
The Ciolkoszes began selling mattresses in 1978 and then started producing them in their basement and garage. The operation quickly grew to 16 storefronts and became known as one of Chicago’s largest bedding retail stores. The couple formed ISP in 1986 as they continued to expand their manufacturing capabilities and purchased the Englander license in 2005. ISP now has a specialty sewing shop, multiple roll pack operations and pocketed coil manufacturing.
