SBJ Capital portfolio company DENNIS Uniform has expanded into the Canadian uniform market with the acquisition of Top Marks. The acquisition of Top Marks comes after the March 2022 acquisition of Mills Uniform Company.
Top Marks, based in Montreal, manufactures school uniforms such as shirts, blouses, polos, dresses, and sweaters.
DENNIS Uniform Enters Canada with Top Marks Partnership
DENNIS Uniform (“DENNIS”), North America’s leading custom school uniform provider and an SBJ Capital portfolio company, is pleased to announce the acquisition of Top Marks in the Canadian uniform market. DENNIS and Top Marks bring decades of knowledge and experience to the top school uniform programs in North America. DENNIS and Top Marks are excited to move forward together with their shared values, high-quality products, and the industry’s most talented team of uniform experts. Top Marks employees have all been retained in the combined company.
Howard Vineberg, owner of Top Marks for the past 28 years, will continue as President.
Here’s what they have to say:
“We are absolutely thrilled to join forces with DENNIS. We both started as family-owned businesses, and now combine to share over 135 years of experience in supplying top quality uniforms and outstanding customer service to schools across North America. We are honored that DENNIS chose Top Marks as its entry point into the Canadian school uniform market,’’ says Vineberg.
“We have always admired and respected Top Marks as a leader in the school uniform business in Canada”, said Gary Serra, CEO at DENNIS Uniform.
“We are honored to now work together, learn from one another, and share best practices across our businesses to achieve our collective goal of being best-in-class” adds further.
Patrick Muller, Vice President at SBJ Capital, added, “Given Gary’s prior experience in the Canadian school uniform market, we’ve long discussed the attractiveness of growing in Canada and how best to enter the market. In Top Marks, we believe DENNIS has the perfect entry point given its reputation and respected operation. Following our partnership with Mills Uniform earlier this year, SBJ Capital and DENNIS are excited about the sizable North American school uniform platform we’ve built and the growth opportunities ahead of us.“
DENNIS Uniforms & Top Marks
DENNIS is a school uniform designer and manufacturer that serves over 2,000 schools and 370,000 students per year through its website and a national network of more than 30 retail locations in 20 states.
The company is headquartered in Portland, Oregon, and is led by CEO Gary Serra. The Shipley family founded DENNIS in 1920, first producing nursing uniforms, then supplying clothing and linens to soldiers shipping out of Portland during World War II.
Top Marks, like Mills Uniform, is a school uniform manufacturer that serves over 150 private schools in Canada. The company, founded in 1986 by owner and President Howard Vineberg, has its manufacturing, distribution, and headquarters facilities in Montreal.
About SBJ Capital
More Information on SBJ Capital. SBJ Capital is a private investment firm that focuses on founder and family-owned consumer and services businesses. SBJ provides thoughtful strategic advice, domain expertise, and a partnership-oriented approach to help entrepreneurs, owners, and management teams achieve their goals. SBJ was founded by an experienced team of professionals with a proven track record of growing businesses as both principal investors and operating executives. For more information, please visit www.sbjcap.com
Also read: DuPont teams up with Heriot-Watt University to reimagine PPE design
