Gildan Activewear Inc., Montreal, has finalized the acquisition of CanAm Yarns LLC — its
50-percent-owned yarn-spinning joint venture with Frontier Spinning Mills Inc., Sanford, N.C. — and
is investing approximately $85 million to expand CanAm’s yarn-spinning operations.
CanAm was established in 2003 to supply yarn to Gildan for use in knitted apparel. Gildan
plans to expand and modernize CanAm’s existing open-end yarn-spinning facilities, which are located
in Clarkton, N.C., and Cedartown, Ga., and employ approximately 230 people.
Through CanAm, Gildan also will open a ring-spinning plant in Salisbury, N.C., and will hire
approximately 170 employees, with production expected to begin in 2014. That project is funded in
part by a North Carolina Job Development Investment Grant.
In addition to its U.S. yarn-spinning facilities, Gildan operates 15 sewing, textile
manufacturing and sock manufacturing facilities in Honduras, Nicaragua, and the Dominican Republic.
The Salisbury plant will allow Gildan to take advantage of the Central America-Dominican Republic
Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR).
According to a statement from Gildan, “the strategic rationale for the company’s investment
in vertically-integrated yarn-spinning is to support its projected sales growth and to continue to
pursue its business model of investing in global low-cost manufacturing technology and in product
technology which will provide consistent superior product quality. The company is investing in
ring-spun yarn technology which will provide enhanced quality features as well as qualify for
duty-free access to U.S. markets under CAFTA-DR, which requires the use of U.S. yarn or yarn spun
in other CAFTA-DR member countries. Ring-spun products will be utilized as part of the company’s
branded product offering in Branded Apparel.”
Gildan has secured new branded programs for fiscal 2013 and has launched the first national
marketing campaign to support its retail brand.
“Quality products plus smart, targeted marketing are helping to define this brand as we
greatly expand our presence at retail,” said Rob Packard, vice president of marketing and
merchandising, Gildan’s retail unit.
January/February 2013
