OAKLAND, N.J.–After serving in the tabletop industry for 65 years, Raymond Zrike has retired as chairman of The Zrike Company as of April 1.
He joined the tabletop industry in 1946, after his discharge as a naval officer in World War II, and took a position with Royal Worcester USA, eventually becoming its president. He retired from Royal Worcester in 1972, and then founded Kosta Boda USA to distribute the products of the Swedish glassware company.
In 1982, he formed The Zrike Company with his two sons, Raymond, Jr., and David, and became the distributor of Vista Alegra dinnerware from Portugal. Today, the company imports a wide range of dinnerware and glassware from Europe and the Far East and David serves as its president.