By David Gill
CHICAGO–Leon Dreimann is back.
Ending months of speculation, the former chief executive officer of Salton has emerged as the head of the personal-care and cleaning-solutions division of a newly formed company, Greystone Brands. Greystone’s first batch of introductions are items carrying the George Foreman label, to be shown at a gallery here during this week’s Housewares Show.
The new items include massage products, shower heads and bathroom scales, along with a George Foreman program of cleaning solutions for the home and the car.
It was Dreimann who brought George Foreman to the housewares industry in 1995 with the introduction of the George Foreman line of electric grills from Salton. “We have worked with George for more than 12 years, building a successful business and friendship during that time,” said Samantha Dreimann, a Greystone Brands spokeswoman and also a former Salton executive.
Greystone is “following up with new product lines that make sense for the George Foreman brand,” Samantha Dreimann said.
Also part of the Greystone product portfolio is a program of personal-care products under the Jacuzzi brand. Greystone also has a kitchen-appliance division, headed by David Sabin, former Salton chairman of the board. This division is launching a new line of Italian-designed kitchen electrics licensed under the Bugatti name, and is working with retailers on private-label programs, Samantha Dreimann said. She added that the company will offer another range of electrics under the Royce brands and that there are “several other licenses in the works.”
All of these products will be presented here from March 15 to 18 at the gallery of artist Matt Lamb on North Sangamon Street.
Dreimann resigned from Salton last May, and Sabin resigned from the company in August 2006. Salton completed its merger with Applica in January of this year.