U-Konserve storage container, left, and an EcoVessel water bottle

CHICAGO —O2C Brands, formerly known as O2COOL, has acquired two sustainability minded brands — EcoVessel and U-Konserve — for an undisclosed sum.

EcoVessel markets premium insulated stainless-steel water bottles, mugs, tumblers and growlers, while U-Konserve sells stainless-steel food storage containers.

The company’s simultaneous name change reflects its corporate strategy of being “a synergistic operating company of multiple consumer brands,” it said.

“O2C Brands is a better reflection of who we are and where we are headed as a business. We are much more than simply O2COOL, our heritage brand. The new name and corporate structure allow us to layer additional brands and product lines into our business,” said CEO Eric Lockwood.

O2C Brands, which is owned by Chicago-based private equity firm Middleton Partners, markets products under these brand names: O2COOL portable cooling, hydration, and pool/patio/beach products; TREVA home comfort products, fans and humidifiers; LunchBots sustainable kids’ lunch solutions; and Bobble filtered water bottles and on-the-go coffee vessels.

EcoVessel and U-Konserve expand the brand’s portfolio and will benefit from O2C’s retail placement and sales relationships across multiple channels, O2C Brands said.

EcoVessel was founded in 2010 by entrepreneur Jon Fox with a focus on sustainability and environmental protection. The company is a member of the non-profit 1% for the Planet, which donates dollars to environmental non-profits. Kansas City-based private equity firm Bomar Holdings has been a growth investor in EcoVessel.

U-Konserve was founded in 2008 and acquired by EcoVessel in 2020. The B Corp business is rooted in a deep appreciation of sustainable design and is driven by a mission to reduce single-use plastics.

“We are thrilled to be joining the O2C family of brands and are looking forward to working with their strong management team. Their long-term retail partnerships and multinational supply chain will help EcoVessel and U-Konserve continue to scale and provide additional resources for us to keep developing superior drinkware and food storage products,” said Fox.

Editor-in-Chief Allison Zisko first joined HFN in 1998 and spent many years covering the tabletop category before widening her scope to all home furnishings. In her current role, she oversees all aspects of HFN, including its print and digital products, and represents the brand at home and abroad through presentations, panel discussions and HFN’s podcast, The Inside Scoop.

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