Latest news with #ASA
National Post
a day ago
- Business
- National Post
ASA Safety Supply Announces Acquisition of OccuFit
Article content LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. — ASA Safety Supply ('ASA Safety' or 'ASA'), a portfolio company of Trivest Partners LP ('Trivest'), announces it has acquired Occupational Fitness, Inc. ('OccuFit' or the 'Company'). Based in Ringgold, Georgia, OccuFit is a leading provider of on-site occupational health screening and compliance services, including mobile hearing conservation, respirator fit testing, and drug screening, serving industrial and commercial customers in more than 30 states. With a focus on delivering high-quality compliance solutions, OccuFit has built a strong reputation for its mobile fleet, certified technicians, and exceptional customer service. Article content Article content Ken Calhoun, ASA Safety's President, stated, 'We are thrilled to welcome OccuFit to the ASA Safety family. This strategic acquisition significantly enhances our OSHA compliance services and training offerings, complementing our core expertise in specialty safety and PPE product distribution. OccuFit's mobile on-site services—including audiometric testing, employee drug screening, and respiratory fit testing—integrate seamlessly with our existing compliance solutions. This alignment allows us to deliver greater value to our diverse customer base through cross-sell opportunities, while also introducing our comprehensive safety products portfolio to OccuFit's clients.' Article content 'ASA Safety provides top-quality safety products at very competitive prices. Once I saw their product selection and understood their expertise in the safety industry, I realized the two companies would make a great combination. Our customers will benefit tremendously from ASA's product selection, and OccuFit's team of on-site technicians are ready to serve ASA's customer base with hearing tests and other services related to safety compliance. I am very excited about the future for our businesses,' said Travis Flenniken, President of OccuFit. Article content ASA Safety remains focused on its commitment to delivering innovative safety products and services, maintaining strong customer relationships, and driving growth in the safety industry. The acquisition of OccuFit positions ASA Safety for continued success by adding complementary service capabilities that can be offered to the company's existing product customers, allowing ASA to be a one-stop-shop for its customers' safety needs. The Company is currently pursuing strategic add-on acquisitions of safety distribution and services businesses throughout the United States. Article content About ASA Safety Article content ASA Safety is a specialized distributor of safety supplies, equipment and related services. It serves industrial and commercial customers primarily across the Eastern United States. Key product categories include hand, eye/face, body, hearing, gas detection and respiratory protection equipment. ASA has longstanding relationships with the most established safety product manufacturers, and the sales team delivers an unmatched level of customer service & technical expertise, which serves as a unique differentiator in the marketplace. ASA Safety is headquartered in Lawrenceville, Georgia. Learn more at Article content Trivest Partners is a leading private equity firm with $6 billion of capital under management across four unique investment funds that focus exclusively on the support and growth of founder-led and family-owned businesses with both control and non-control transactions across the United States and Canada. Headquartered in Miami, with a presence in Charlotte, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and Toronto, the Firm has more than 50 portfolio companies as of June 2025. Learn more at Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
ASA Safety Supply Announces Acquisition of OccuFit
LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga., June 19, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ASA Safety Supply ("ASA Safety" or "ASA"), a portfolio company of Trivest Partners LP ("Trivest"), announces it has acquired Occupational Fitness, Inc. ("OccuFit" or the "Company"). Based in Ringgold, Georgia, OccuFit is a leading provider of on-site occupational health screening and compliance services, including mobile hearing conservation, respirator fit testing, and drug screening, serving industrial and commercial customers in more than 30 states. With a focus on delivering high-quality compliance solutions, OccuFit has built a strong reputation for its mobile fleet, certified technicians, and exceptional customer service. Ken Calhoun, ASA Safety's President, stated, "We are thrilled to welcome OccuFit to the ASA Safety family. This strategic acquisition significantly enhances our OSHA compliance services and training offerings, complementing our core expertise in specialty safety and PPE product distribution. OccuFit's mobile on-site services—including audiometric testing, employee drug screening, and respiratory fit testing—integrate seamlessly with our existing compliance solutions. This alignment allows us to deliver greater value to our diverse customer base through cross-sell opportunities, while also introducing our comprehensive safety products portfolio to OccuFit's clients." "ASA Safety provides top-quality safety products at very competitive prices. Once I saw their product selection and understood their expertise in the safety industry, I realized the two companies would make a great combination. Our customers will benefit tremendously from ASA's product selection, and OccuFit's team of on-site technicians are ready to serve ASA's customer base with hearing tests and other services related to safety compliance. I am very excited about the future for our businesses," said Travis Flenniken, President of OccuFit. ASA Safety remains focused on its commitment to delivering innovative safety products and services, maintaining strong customer relationships, and driving growth in the safety industry. The acquisition of OccuFit positions ASA Safety for continued success by adding complementary service capabilities that can be offered to the company's existing product customers, allowing ASA to be a one-stop-shop for its customers' safety needs. The Company is currently pursuing strategic add-on acquisitions of safety distribution and services businesses throughout the United States. About ASA Safety ASA Safety is a specialized distributor of safety supplies, equipment and related services. It serves industrial and commercial customers primarily across the Eastern United States. Key product categories include hand, eye/face, body, hearing, gas detection and respiratory protection equipment. ASA has longstanding relationships with the most established safety product manufacturers, and the sales team delivers an unmatched level of customer service & technical expertise, which serves as a unique differentiator in the marketplace. ASA Safety is headquartered in Lawrenceville, Georgia. Learn more at About Trivest Trivest Partners is a leading private equity firm with $6 billion of capital under management across four unique investment funds that focus exclusively on the support and growth of founder-led and family-owned businesses with both control and non-control transactions across the United States and Canada. Headquartered in Miami, with a presence in Charlotte, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and Toronto, the Firm has more than 50 portfolio companies as of June 2025. Learn more at View source version on Contacts Asad Dilawariadilawari@ (305) 858-2200 Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
The Independent
a day ago
- Health
- The Independent
Older people ‘bombarded' with ads for funerals, care homes and mobility aids
Older people say they are being 'bombarded' by campaigns for funeral services, care homes and mobility aids by 'out-of-touch' mainstream advertising, a study has found. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) said more than a third of the UK population (35%) agreed that older people tended to be negatively stereotyped in ads, with other depictions such as forgetfulness, frailty or not being able to use technology also seen as potentially offensive. While not offensive, depictions such as older people always being wealthy or grumpy, or ads that showed them doing extreme and unrealistic activities, were found to be cliched and irritating. Almost half (49%) said ads using humour at the expense of older people were likely to cause offence. Some 44% believed that older people were either underrepresented or not represented at all in ads, particularly in categories like fashion, beauty, technology and household goods. Respondents also raised concerns about how ads were targeted, saying they felt 'bombarded' by promotions for end-of-life services such as funerals or cremations, life insurance and care homes. The ASA's report, based on focus groups and a survey of 4,000 UK adults, said older people were not only living longer but also continuing to lead full, active lives, contributing to workplaces, families, communities and the economy for longer. However, many of those surveyed said that advertising too often painted a 'very different and outdated picture'. The watchdog said ads showing older people as lonely, purposeless or powerless could be harmful – especially for those aged 75 and over, for whom these portrayals reinforced fears about ageing and social isolation. It also flagged beauty ads that suggested ageing must be 'fought' as potentially harmful. In particular, women aged 65 and over recognised the potential for these ads to cause harm to the self-esteem of women of all ages. The ASA said the findings suggested the ad industry may be 'out of touch' with the reality of ageing. Instead, the public wanted advertising to focus on individuals rather than their age, and portray a diverse range of later-life experiences. The ASA said: 'When ads show older people as vibrant, capable and real, they help rewrite the story of ageing and how we perceive older generations. 'Not only this, but older people represent a significant market with substantial spending power, making them a vital audience for brands that want to stay relevant. 'While we're not currently proposing any new rules, we're hoping that by sharing this research, advertisers will understand how some portrayals of older people are landing with the public today – and where there may be unintended consequences.' Kam Atwal, research lead at the ASA, said: 'As a society, we're living longer, richer and more varied lives. 'Our research reveals that some of today's portrayals of older people in advertising are not being received positively, and that the public want ads to better reflect the varied lives older people lead today. 'This is a real opportunity for brands to embrace the true diversity of later life and take a leading role in challenging outdated perceptions.' Harriet Bailiss, co-head of the Age Without Limits campaign, run by the Centre for Ageing Better charity, said: 'We really welcome this excellent report from the ASA. 'We live in a society where ageism is the most common form of discrimination. We should all want that to end and we all have a role to play in making that happen. 'Advertising has such a powerful influence on society and can help bring about that change and be a force for good, as it has already been for changing other outdated perceptions.'
The Independent
a day ago
- General
- The Independent
Older people stereotyped as rich and grumpy in ‘offensive' adverts, watchdog says
Elderly people are too often stereotyped as grumpy, wealthy or forgetful in offensive and harmful adverts, a watchdog has warned. In new research carried out by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), a third of respondents thought older people tended to be negatively portrayed in adverts. The survey of 4,000 people also found older people were being 'bombarded' by campaigns for funeral services, care homes and mobility aids. Depictions of the elderly as lacking purpose, frail, isolated and showing ageing as something to be fought were viewed as the most likely to cause harm, the survey found – given their potential to reinforce fears about growing older and social isolation. Adverts making jokes at the expense of older people, and those depicting them as forgetful or unable to understand technology, were seen to be among the most likely to cause offence, or else to be irritating to viewers. The ASA's report said older people were not only living longer but also continuing to lead full, active lives, contributing to workplaces, families, communities and the economy for longer. However, many of those surveyed said that advertising too often painted a 'very different and outdated picture', while the watchdog said its finding suggested the advertising industry may be 'out of touch' with the reality of ageing. Instead, the public wanted advertising to focus on individuals rather than their age, and portray a diverse range of later-life experiences. One advert highlighted by the watchdog as 'a good example of the subjectivity of humour and its link to offence' was a TV ad for Strathmore Foods, in which an elderly man is proudly cleaning his car only for it to be hit by a muddy football. The man is seen to lose his temper with a child who shouts: 'Oi grandad, give us my ball back', before the screen cuts to him contentedly tucking into a McIntosh of Strathmore ready meal, with the punctured football placed next to him on the table with a knife sticking out of it. Describing the award-winning advert as 'polarising', the watchdog said: 'Several [focus group] participants enjoyed the humorous tone taken in the ad. Not only did it go some way to show older people still have a sense of humour, but also that older people still have 'spirit' or 'feistiness' that is not usually shown in ads. 'However, others felt the humorous tone and portrayal could cause offence as it reinforced stereotypes of older people as grumpy and intolerant of younger generations. The focus on the older man living alone and eating a ready meal, was also felt to imply that all older people are lonely and isolated. 'There were other, underlying concerns about the themes in the ad including intergenerational conflict, knife crime and vindictiveness.' Another advert viewed as potentially harmful by focus groups was a LinkedIn ad in which a woman is interviewed about what her son does for work, saying: 'He says he sells clouds, he works in a cloud company and sells clouds to other companies that want clouds ... He says they're invisible. Maybe I shouldn't have let him play so many video games.' A voiceover then says: 'Parents don't get B2B. LinkedIn does.' The watchdog said the focus on the woman in the advert was 'entirely on her age' and felt 'demeaning with potential to impact an older person's confidence and societal views toward older peoples' ability to use tech'. While the focus group participants acknowledged that extremes seen in adverts could be representative of the lives of some older people, these portrayals were not considered accurate reflections of the lives of most older people, the watchdog said. Other extreme depictions highlighted by focus groups were adverts showing older people as: either physically inactive or taking part in extreme sports; either universally poor or universally wealthy; or, for women, either 'frumpy and unfashionable' or 'airbrushed and 'youthful' looking'. The ASA said: 'When ads show older people as vibrant, capable and real, they help rewrite the story of ageing and how we perceive older generations. 'Not only this, but older people represent a significant market with substantial spending power, making them a vital audience for brands that want to stay relevant. 'While we're not currently proposing any new rules, we're hoping that by sharing this research, advertisers will understand how some portrayals of older people are landing with the public today – and where there may be unintended consequences.'
Yahoo
a day ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Older people ‘bombarded' with ads for funerals, care homes and mobility aids
Older people say they are being 'bombarded' by campaigns for funeral services, care homes and mobility aids by 'out-of-touch' mainstream advertising, a study has found. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) said more than a third of the UK population (35%) agreed that older people tended to be negatively stereotyped in ads, with other depictions such as forgetfulness, frailty or not being able to use technology also seen as potentially offensive. While not offensive, depictions such as older people always being wealthy or grumpy, or ads that showed them doing extreme and unrealistic activities, were found to be cliched and irritating. Almost half (49%) said ads using humour at the expense of older people were likely to cause offence. Some 44% believed that older people were either underrepresented or not represented at all in ads, particularly in categories like fashion, beauty, technology and household goods. Respondents also raised concerns about how ads were targeted, saying they felt 'bombarded' by promotions for end-of-life services such as funerals or cremations, life insurance and care homes. The ASA's report, based on focus groups and a survey of 4,000 UK adults, said older people were not only living longer but also continuing to lead full, active lives, contributing to workplaces, families, communities and the economy for longer. However, many of those surveyed said that advertising too often painted a 'very different and outdated picture'. The watchdog said ads showing older people as lonely, purposeless or powerless could be harmful – especially for those aged 75 and over, for whom these portrayals reinforced fears about ageing and social isolation. It also flagged beauty ads that suggested ageing must be 'fought' as potentially harmful. In particular, women aged 65 and over recognised the potential for these ads to cause harm to the self-esteem of women of all ages. The ASA said the findings suggested the ad industry may be 'out of touch' with the reality of ageing. Instead, the public wanted advertising to focus on individuals rather than their age, and portray a diverse range of later-life experiences. The ASA said: 'When ads show older people as vibrant, capable and real, they help rewrite the story of ageing and how we perceive older generations. 'Not only this, but older people represent a significant market with substantial spending power, making them a vital audience for brands that want to stay relevant. 'While we're not currently proposing any new rules, we're hoping that by sharing this research, advertisers will understand how some portrayals of older people are landing with the public today – and where there may be unintended consequences.' Kam Atwal, research lead at the ASA, said: 'As a society, we're living longer, richer and more varied lives. 'Our research reveals that some of today's portrayals of older people in advertising are not being received positively, and that the public want ads to better reflect the varied lives older people lead today. 'This is a real opportunity for brands to embrace the true diversity of later life and take a leading role in challenging outdated perceptions.' Harriet Bailiss, co-head of the Age Without Limits campaign, run by the Centre for Ageing Better charity, said: 'We really welcome this excellent report from the ASA. 'We live in a society where ageism is the most common form of discrimination. We should all want that to end and we all have a role to play in making that happen. 'Advertising has such a powerful influence on society and can help bring about that change and be a force for good, as it has already been for changing other outdated perceptions.'
