Grand Metropolitan Companies

Grand Metropolitan is an American multinational luxury goods holding company founded in Beverly Hills, CA. The group controls over 100 brand subsidiaries that have conducted almost $200 billion in revenue collectively since their founding originating in 1787.

Many of our companies have been leading employers and institutions in their local communities raising millions of dollars over the years for a variety of charities and causes.

Grand Metropolitan subsidiaries include:

Orcofi Holdings

French fashion house Orcofi, originally founded by Louis Vuitton family patriarch/former Chairman/CEO LVMH Louis Vuitton-Moet Hennessey Henry Racamier, specializes in luxury goods (haute couture, ready-to-wear, handbags, perfumery, cosmetics). The original holding company joined French banking group Paribas and French cosmetics giant L’Oréal in buying Paris’ oldest couture house Lanvin.

Between 1989-1991, Orcofi assembled an impressive portfolio: Leather conglomerate Andrelux Industries (Bohata et Cie, Lorenzo, Soco, Upla, Le Tanneur), legendary trunk maker Moynat est.1849, luxury grocer Hédiard, lingerie brand Orcanta, Acanta, Cristalleries Daum, Philippe Model (fashion shoe/accessories designer), ready-to-wear Ines de la Fressange and Lanvin. Mr. Racamier sold Orcofi to global insurance powerhouse AXA S.A.

AXA sold Orcofi’s Orcanta to François-Henri Pinault’s Pinault-Printemps-Redoute (Kering). Founded in 1995, the exclusive boutiques sold for $42.5 million. In 2006, PPR sold Orcanta to Groupe Chantelle who now offers seven lingerie brands/retail networks: Chantelle, Passionata, Darjeeling, Orcanta, Chantal Thomass, Femilet, and Livera.

In 1996, L’Oréal acquired 50% of Lanvin from Orcofi. Lanvin was then acquired by Taiwanese media magnate Shaw-Lan Wang from L’Oreal in 2001. Gordon-Choisy (one of the world’s most prominent tanneries specializing in exotic leathers) initially sold to LVMH and then to Hermes International. Luxembourg-based luxury holding company Luvanis SA (Vionnet, Mainbocher) bought Moynat in 2009. Groupe Arnault, LVMH’s CEO Bernard Arnault’s holding company bought Moynat in 2010.

In 2011 Qatar Luxury Group (QELA) acquired Le Tanneur & Cie (founded 1898) and Euronext listed Soco, also signing a licensing agreement with Michael Kors and Celine. Financiere Saint-Germain, parent of Lalique, Haviland Porcelain Works now owns Cristalleries Daum.

Grand Metropolitan acquired Orcofi in 2010.

Heilig-Meyers Furniture

Heilig-Meyers Furniture, the largest privately held furniture group in North America dating back to 1858, has achieved $100 billion in revenue in the last century. We own 30 of the top 50 home furnishing banners. By 2000, the group represented fine manufacturers such as Broyhill, Thomasville, Drexel Heritage, Henredon, Hickory Chair, Pearson, Lane Venture, and Maitland-Smith in almost 2,000 locations boasting $3 billion a year in annual revenue.

Heilig-Meyers and Rhodes Furniture have been major NASCAR sponsors and helped to raise millions of dollars for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. In addition to 8 national furniture retail brands, we manage 20 consumer brands including Four Seasons Home Accents, KidStore, and RentSmart.

Wickes Furniture, founded in 1971, grew to be the largest furniture retailer in the United States by the early 80s. The company is now part of the Heilig-Meyers family of brands.

Heilig-Meyers Furniture, Thornton Stores, Granite Furniture, Bruce’s Furniture Stores, Royal Jackson Furniture, Sterchi Brothers Furniture, Reliable Stores, Holthouse Furniture, The Furniture Center, WCK, Inc., Gibson McDonald Furniture, Reichart Furniture, Wolf Furniture Enterprises, McMahan’s Furniture, L. Fish Stores, Nelson Brothers Furniture, J.Homestock, Berrios Furniture, Self Service Furniture, Room Store Inc., Value House Furniture, Star Furniture Co., Mattress Discounters, Rhodes Inc., Marks Fitzgerald, Rhodes Furniture, John M Smyth’s, Homemakers Furniture, Rhodes-Haverty, Weberg Enterprises, Gallery Rodeo, Bukhara Rugs, Nunziato Leathers, Krause’s Furniture, Krauses-Castro, The Sofa Factory, Wickes Furniture, Four Seasons Home, Glick Furniture, ValueHouse Furniture, Kingsley, Sleep Tight America, American Family, American Backyard Collection, Turbo Tech, Four Seasons Home Accents, Phantom Flyer, Diamanell, Mighty Mow, KidStore, RentSmart, Centurion Crown, Room of Dreams, Riverly House, Trees & Hides, Nunziato, Regal Rest, Regal Rest Imperial, Crossroads.

Finlay Enterprises

Finlay Fine Jewelers has origins dating back to 1787 achieving $100 billion over two centuries. By 2010, Finlay was the largest operator of leased jewelry departments in over 1200 stores in the US and France (Société Nouvelle d’Achat de Bijouterie (SONAB) including:

May Department Stores; Foley’s, Filene’s, Kaufmann’s, Robinson’s May, Meier & Frank, Hecht’s, Strawbridge, Famous Barr, L.S. Ayers, Lord & Taylor. Federated Department Stores; Bloomingdale’s, Burdine’s, The Bon Marche’, Rich’s, Lazarus, Goldsmith. Saks Inc. Department Stores; Carson Pirie Scott, Boston Store, Bergner’s, Younker’s, Parisian’s. Marshall Field’s, Belk, Dillard’s, Bon Ton, Gottschalk’s, Elder Beerman and Bonwit Tellers.

Finlay graces red carpets at the Golden Globes, Academy Awards, Grammys, and Independent Spirit Awards. Vin Lee, the creator of the tennis earring/ear cuff/climber, is worn by celebrities, diplomats, royalty, most notably by family of the President of France at Cannes. The Diamond Standard brand sold to affiliate of Jimmy Choo Limited, subsidiary of Labelux.

Finlay owns 30 of the top 50 US jewelry brands:

Finlay Fine Jewelers, Diamond Park, Jay B. Rudolph, New York Jewelry Outlet, Park Promenade, Luxuria Fine Jewelers, Société Nouvelle d’Achatde Bijouterie (SONAB), Lundstrom Jewelers, Marks Brothers, Whitehall Co. Jewellers, L. Luria & Son, Friedman’s Inc., A.A. Friedman, Crescent Jewellers, Bucceli Gem, Ephraim Brasher, Japy Freres, Jean Goujon, Missirs, Wicked Woodies, L.D. Giddens & Son, Shifrin-Willens, Merksamers, Haute Bijouterie, Sweeneys, Corrigans, Barclay & Sons, Castlebergs, S&N Katz, Fine Jewelers Guild, Ceylats, Diamonds on Rodeo, Diamonell, Gotthelfs, Henricks, Vin Lee, Zemil, Bailen, DuQuet, Goldmans, Stockdale, Shreya, Silvermans, Wingrove, Woodstock, Coral Jewelers, Higinbotham, Jewelry Banker, Krisselmeyer, Ziaris, Linz Brothers.
*sold to investors

IMASCO Ltd.

IMASCO Ltd. was formed to hold Grand Metropolitan’s liquor and tobacco assets. The group is the largest of it’s kind in the world. St. Aubin du Cormier Vin & Spirit is the Groups liquor collection available only at select private clubs and events.

United Cigar Stores was the largest chain of cigar stores in the United States. United Cigar Stores is the e-commerce subsidiary of IMASCO Ltd. which services over 1,500 tobacconists both wholesale and retail and direct to American clients. The company also operates the largest network of social clubs, most notably The Beverly Hills Cigar Club, rated Top 5 Private Memberships by Playboy Magazine and home to LOUIXS, the Bugatti Veyron of the cigar industry.

In early 2006, Grand Metropolitan added iHumidor, part of a $30 million portfolio, to its operations. Assets also include Cigar Club News, Cigar Registry, and Cigar Finder as consumers are relying more on technology to improve their experience. Portfolio brands in both retail and social clubs participate in most of the top 100 markets in the world including New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Paris, London, and Dubai.