Feature a high percentage of replacement business that provides annuity-like revenue base with growth opportunities in niche areas (e.g., hotels, travel industry, microbreweries.) Highest brand-name recognition in glass tableware with consumers in the U.S.Improvement in the profitability of recently acquired businesses by investing in automation and leveraging the company''s distribution advantages and customer relationships. The investment opportunities due to improved utilization of existing sales and distribution resources and greater efficiency in manufacturing resulting from the company''s re-engineering initiatives. Continuous product development that provides glass art new glassware, ceramic dinnerware and metal flatware items in response to changing consumer preferences, creating new markets for the company''s products.

our company is the glass tableware market share leader in the u.s. and canada with a 180-year history. we are the leading glass tableware supplier to foodservice end-users and the number one brand name in retail. we are a growing tabletop supplier with our dinnerware and glass flatware aquisitions and we have become more international with a strategic mexican joint venture. this joint venture provides us with new opportunities to become art glass a major supplier to broader and growing markets. ".what do you consider to be your competitive advantages? having the largest glassware manufacturing, sales and distribution network glass gives us significant scale, which provides unparalleled service to our customers.

the illustration we placed on the cover of our 2000 annual report depicts the hare and the tortoise in another race; this time it takes place in the 21st century, and again the tortoise is winning. a hare one day ridiculed the short feet and slow pace of the tortoise, who replied, laughing: "though you be swift as the wind, i will beat you in a race." the hare, believing the art tortoise''s assertion to be simply impossible, glass assented to the proposal; and they agreed that the fox should choose the course and fix the goal. on the day appointed for the race, the two started together. the tortoise never for a moment stopped, but went on with a slow but steady pace straight to the end of the course. the hare, lying down by the wayside, fell fast asleep. at last waking up, and moving as fast as he could, he saw the tortoise had reached the goal...