Igloo Products Corp. acquired Cool Gear International LLC of Plymouth, MA and named a new president last week, marking the most significant developments at the company since it was acquired by a private equity firm last year.

Cool Gear designs and manufactures hydration bottles and food storage containers featuring patented, embedded freezer gel elements that keep drinks and food cold. The company sells its products to big-box retailers, drug store chains, supermarkets and gift stores in 15 countries.

The combined company will not only be a market leader in the storage of food and beverages, but will also enjoy one of the most robust portfolios of intellectual property in the space, according to ACON Investments L.L.C., the Washington, D.C.-based private equity firm that purchased Igloo from J.H. Whitney on March 31, 2014.

Parrish is replacing Gary Kiedaisch, a seasoned sporting goods executive who has steered Igloo since 2008. While  stepping down from day-to-day management, Kiedaisch, who has also served as CEO at The Coleman Co., Bauer Hockey, Bolle Inc. and other sporting goods companies, remains an investor in Igloo and may assist the company on special projects at the direction of the board. 

Igloo acquired Cool Gear from RAF Industries, a long-term investor that along with Cool Gear’s founders-Donna and Hank Roth, Kiedaisch and J.H. Whitney, will be shareholders in the combined company.  Terms of the   transaction were not disclosed, but the acquisition represents a significant transaction for Igloo and comes just nine months after an affiliate of ACON acquired Igloo.

In addition to serving as president, Parrish will join Donna and Hank Roth on the Igloo board of directors.

“It speaks volumes about the combined company’s opportunity that we have been able to attract an executive as skilled as Mark Parrish and that Donna, Hank and Mark have agreed to join our board,” said ACON Managing Partner Aron Schwartz.

Parrish has lead organizational transformations at several U.S.-based manufacturers, including Harley-Davidson, Simmons, Ply Gem Windows, carpet maker Interface Inc. and the home products company Deceuninck North America.

“Much like Harley-Davidson and Simmons, Igloo is an iconic brand that is an essential part of America’s proud manufacturing legacy,” Parrish said. “I look forward to the challenge of leveraging Igloo’s market leading position, committed associates and state of the art Katy, Texas factory to launch exciting new products.”

Igloo brings fresh capital, broader distribution and other resources that will help Cool Gear continue to penetrate new markets and categories with product extensions and additional innovations, according to Cool Gear President and co-founder Donna Roth.

When ACON acquired Igloo it said it intended to build the company into a larger, more dynamic and diversified consumer products company through organic growth and acquisitions of market leading companies.

Now 850 employees strong, Igloo world headquarters is located at a 1.4 million square foot facility in Katy, Texas.