Eby-Brown, FGX Partner on New Eyewear Program

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Eby-Brown Co. LLC formed a distribution partnership with eyewear designer and marketer FGX International, which will allow the latter to expand its distribution presence in the convenience channel to more than 13,500 locations.

"This is an important area of growth for our company," stated FGX Executive Vice President of Sales Steve Burbridge. "Convenience stores efficiently cater to time-starved consumers and Eby-Brown is a crucial partner to ensure FGX's impressive portfolio of brands is easily accessible to consumers."

Eby-Brown will begin distributing Foster Grant and selected licensed brands, such as NASCAR, starting in May.

"We are extremely pleased to be partnering with FGX on a new program for eyewear, which will serve as one of the key elements of our overall general merchandise assortment," said John Roach, vice president of merchandising at Eby-Brown. "They have provided us with great market insight and an extremely strong brand that will allow us to deliver the right solutions to our customers."

Naperville, Ill.-based Eby-Brown is a privately held convenience store distributor in the United States, servicing retail accounts throughout the Midwest and Southeast.