Maine firm buys rival maker of religious articles

PITTSFIELD – C.M. Almy and Son Inc., a 113-year-old church vestment, religious article and candle company, has acquired its largest competitor, The Kerry Collection of Carlsbad, Calif., and is moving all distribution to its Pittsfield facility.

The move has required Almy to seek additional warehouse space and hire at least three new employees, according to Vice President Michael Fendler.

Almy was founded in New York in 1892. It was moved to Pittsfield by owner Donald Fendler after World War II.

Michael Fendler and his brother Stephen are the third generation of Fendlers to operate the facility, which services churches nationwide.

Almy employs 200 workers.

Michael Fendler said Wednesday that although the sale was completed in the summer, the movement of stock is just under way.

“We have started the move to Pittsfield,” he said. Fendler is leasing space at the former Pittsfield Woolen Yarns warehouse and all orders will be filled from Pittsfield after Sunday. Sales staff, however, still will be located in California and Connecticut.

Marketing will be conducted from Almy’s Greenwich, Conn., offices.

Fendler said Almy had been producing liquid paraffin “artificial candles” since the mid-1980s, but that Kerry was its largest competitor.

Kerry has been in operation for 23 years, serving 34,000 churches. It produces the liquid paraffin candles and religious articles such as tabernacles, chalices and Communion ware, vestments and gifts.

Fendler said he considered operating Kerry as a separate company but decided to consolidate it within Almy.