Acosta announces acquisition of Hynes marketing agency

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. Acosta Sales and Marketing Co. announced it has acquired U.S. sales and marketing agency Hynes Inc. The agency specializes in representing companies that manufacture health, beauty and general merchandise products and servicing the drug, grocery and mass channels.

Hynes, established in 1939 in Charlotte, N.C., has grown from its original format as a single-market consumer packaged goods sales and marketing agency by developing client brands and acquiring other companies. Today Hynes’ coverage spans across New England, Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, Midwest, Southwest, and Florida markets. In addition to its Charlotte headquarters, Hynes has offices in Taunton, Mass.; Tampa, Fla.; Dallas; and Washington.

Acosta is a full-service sales and marketing agency providing outsourced sales, merchandising, marketing and promotional services to manufacturers in the consumer packaged goods industry. Headquartered in Jacksonville, Fla., Acosta has operations throughout the United States and Canada.

“One of our growth strategies for 2008 is to increase our presence in the drug channel,” said Acosta president and chief operating officer Robert Hill. “This acquisition is an excellent opportunity for us to strengthen our relationship with retailers such as Rite Aid and CVS thereby increasing services to our clients.”

Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.