NC Chocolate, the parent company of Chocolate Inn/Lanco (asi/44900), has purchased Screen Printers Design Inc. (SPD). Financial details of the transaction were not released.

“I’m excited to announce the acquisition of SPD,” said Lance Stier, a principal of NC Chocolate, which has made seven promotional product-focused acquisitions since 2010. “This marks our first add-on to our Lanco acquisition and the continued expansion of our screen printing and embroidery capabilities.” Stier added that “the management of SPD is an exceptionally talented design and printing team. They will be with the company to help us build, grow and develop our contract line and overall capabilities.”

Previously located in Farmingdale, NY, SPD’s operations have been moved to Chocolate Inn/Lanco’s Ronkonkoma location. Expanded imprinting capabilities will include photo-quality printing, metallic silkscreen with rhinestones and gold metallic silkscreen. Among the printed and embroidered items Chocolate Inn/Lanco plans to feature in its Holiday 2018 catalog are Premium Toiletry Sets, Edible & Bag Sets and Edible & Cooler Sets.

“The printing techniques will be great to feature across many of Chocolate Inn/Lanco’s products, including a number of new holiday products,” Stier told Counselor. “We can cross-merchandise the holiday products with our edible assortment to create beautiful Bag + Confectionery/Snack options for our distributors. This was one of the goals of the Chocolate Inn/Lanco combination, to cross-merchandise edibles and hard goods. This furthers that goal.”

Stier calls SPD “a hidden gem,” adding that it’s been a “word-of-mouth” supplier that has served souvenir companies, promotional products distributors and retailers for more than 40 years. “This company has the capabilities, team and know-how to scale,” he said. “It’s time that we show the world what SPD can do.”

Chocolate Inn/Lanco reported 2017 North American promotional products sales of $49 million, a 6.5% year-over-year increase.