Marquee Brands acquires Laura Ashley
Marquee Brands has added a 72-year-old British heritage brand to its portfolio.
The brand management company has acquired UK home, fashion and lifestyle brand Laura Ashley from Gordon Brothers, which acquired the brand out of insolvency in 2020. With the acquisition, Marquee’s portfolio exceeds $4 billion in retail sales.
Founded in 1953, Laura Ashley is know for its English-inspired aesthetic, with designs that feature delicate florals, and vintage-inspired motifs across hundreds of products and categories. The brand is distributed in more than 80 countries through leading wholesalers, digital marketplaces and over 150 branded retail locations and shop-in-shops globally. It operates through a network of more than 100 licensed partners.
The acquisition retains Laura Ashley’s U.K.-based team and expands Marquee Brands’ global footprint with the opening of its first European headquarters in London. Marquee Brands said it is poised to deepen Laura Ashley’s presence, driving new business across North America, Latin America, Asia Pacific, EMEA and other key regions.
“Laura Ashley’s licensed business model and robust group of high-quality partners makes the brand a seamless addition to Marquee Brands ,” said Heath Golden, CEO of Marquee Brands. “With the existing UK team in place, we are primed and ready to leverage Laura Ashley’s seven-decade legacy to unlock its future potential as a full lifestyle brand innovating new products and categories, offering unique collaborations and engaging multi-generational audiences in key markets worldwide.”
Marquee Leadership
The acquisition of Laura Ashley marks the culmination of a transformative year for Marquee Brands. To support its growth and commitment to increasing organic revenue, the company bolstered its executive team with the appointments of Rachel Terrace as chief commercial and growth officer, John Hayes as CFO, Joseph Zarro as chief business development officer and Natasha Fishman as chief marketing officer.
"With key leadership in place, Marquee Brands kicks off 2025 well-positioned to drive expansion, optimize operational efficiencies and foster sustainable growth across its expanding portfolio,” Marquee stated in a release.
Lincoln International served as the exclusive financial advisor to Gordon Brothers in facilitating the completion of this transaction.
Marquee's brand portfolio is organized into three verticals: home & culinary, fashion & lifestyle and active & outdoor. The company’s portfolio includes Martha Stewart, Emeril Lagasse, Sur La Table, America's Test Kitchen, BCBG, Ben Sherman, Bruno Magli, Anti Social Social Club, Totes, Isotoner, Destination Maternity, Motherhood Maternity, A Pea in The Pod, Dakine and Body Glove.
