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Our company is one of the most recognized brand names in consumer housewares in the United States and the leading brand name in glass tableware. Its products are sold in major retail channels of distribution in the United States and Canada, including mass merchants, department stores and specialty housewares stores. Around 600 B.C., the Greek philosopher Aesop wrote the timeless fable "The Hare and the Tortoise." This story, which was first handed down through oral tradition, imparts the moral of the tortoise winning a race against the hare, not because he was swift of feet, but because he was steady in determination. At our company, we think we are like the tortoise: engraved wine glasses sound, stable and focused on the goal. with our partner, we intend to expand our glass tableware market share in mexico and throughout central and south america. the joint venture represents another milestone in glasses our plan to be a more important glass tableware supplier on a global scale. our company was the first company here in toledo, dating its origins here to 1888. the company operates glass tableware manufacturing plants in nationwide and is a joint venture partner in engraved wine glasses the largest glass tableware company in mexico. through its china subsidiary, the company designs, manufactures and distributes an extensive line of high-quality ceramic dinnerware, principally for the foodservice industry in the united states. 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, glasses and again the tortoise is winning. a hare one day ridiculed the short feet and slow pace of the tortoise, who replied, personalized wine glasses laughing: "though you be swift as the wind, i will beat you in a race." the hare, believing the glasses tortoise''s assertion to be simply impossible, 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...
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