NEWS
Find the latest news coverage, press releases and company updates about Flat River Group here.
For media inquiries, please contact Katie Kett at kkett@flatrivergroup.com.
Flat River Group acquires games publisher Synapses Games and distributor Luma Imports, Expands Publishing and Distribution
March 14, 2022 | ICv2
lat River Group is acquiring two Canadian companies, expanding its publishing and distribution capabilities and team, the company announced. Flat River Group, a 1st party e-commerce partner which also serves the hobby trade through its Impressions Game Distribution unit, now adds distributor and publisher Luma Imports and publisher Synapses Games. Luma Imports provides North American distribution and marketing for Horrible Guild, Bombyx Studios, Sit Down Games, Holy Grail Games, and others. Read more.
Flat River Group acquires games publisher Synapses Games and distributor Luma Imports
March 14, 2022 | Flat River Group Press Release
Flat River Group, a 1st party ecommerce partner, announced today the acquisition of Luma Imports, a game distributor and Synapses Games, a tabletop game publisher and design house. Founded in 2018 and based in Delaware, Luma Imports represents the English-language catalogues for a roster of European publishers such as Horrible Guild, Bombyx Studios, Sit Down, Holy Grail Games, and many others. They also distribute Synapses Games, which was founded in 2018 and is based in Montreal, Canada. They publish the award-winning Cóatl, as well as the upcoming Betta and Draw the Line, and are distributed in more than 40 countries. Read more.
IELLO names Flat River Group as its U.S. and Canadian distributor
January 21, 2022 | Toy News
France-based board game publisher IELLO has appointed Flat River Group (FRG) as its exclusive distributor for the United States and Canada. “We are thrilled to collaborate with Flat River Group,” says Cédric Barbé, managing director of IELLO. “We’ve known Matt Stahlin, president of Flat River Group, for a long time. FRG’s high ambitions for our flagship King of Tokyo and Bunny Kingdom lines by Richard Garfield convinced us that we shared the same vision and strategy.” The distribution agreement covers the U.S. and Canada (for English language versions of the games). Read more.
IELLO appoints Flat River exclusive distributor
January 21, 2022 | ICv2
French board game company IELLO has appointed Flat River Group LLC as its exclusive distributor to the English-speaking market in the U.S. and Canada, the companies announced. The new deal was effective January 1, 2022. Flat River Group has been selling IELLO products to mass retailers for the past nine years; the new deal expands the relationship to other channels. Flat River Group division Impressions Game Distribution Services handles distribution to hobby distributors. Read more.
January 20, 2022 | Flat River Group Press Release
HEILLECOURT, France, Jan. 20, 2022 - IELLO, board game publisher based in Heillecourt, France, has entrusted Flat River Group LLC (FRG) as its exclusive distributor for the United States and Canada as of January 1, 2022. “We are thrilled to collaborate with Flat River Group,” said Cédric Barbé, managing director of IELLO. “We’ve known Matt Stahlin, president of Flat River Group, for a long time. FRG's high ambitions for our flagship King of Tokyo and Bunny Kingdom lines by Richard Garfield convinced us that we shared the same vision and strategy." Read more.
Flat River Group acquires games publisher
December 7, 2021 | Grand Rapids Business Journal
An e-commerce business acceleration company acquired a tabletop games publisher.
Belding-based Flat River Group said Thursday, Dec. 2, it acquired St. Louis, Missouri-based Greater Than Games, a tabletop game publisher, design house and consolidator.
Founded in 2011, Greater Than Games is known for publishing games such as Sentinels of the Multiverse, Spirit Island and Medium. Read more.
December 5, 2021 | The Dice Tower
This week, Greater than Games goes Flat, Asmodee partially explodes, and Carcassonne gets a fresh coat of paint. Listen/Download.
MiBiz Growth Report: December 5, 2021
December 5, 2021 | MiBiz
Belding-based Flat River Group LLC has acquired Greater Than Games LLC, a St. Louis, Mo.-based designer and publisher of tabletop games including Sentinels of the Multiverse, Spirit Island and Medium. Greater Than Games had been a long-time vendor partner of Flat River Group, an e-commerce distributor, marketer and services provider firm specializing in the toys and games, pets, baby and outdoor sporting goods industries. Read more.
December 3, 2021 | ICv2
Flat River Group announced that they have acquired St. Louis-based tabletop game publisher Greater Than Games, which had been a long-time vendor to Flat River. This is Flat River’s first purchase of a board game publisher. Last year, the company acquired wholesaler Optimum Distribution Fulfillment, and in 2019, it acquired consolidator Impressions Game Distribution Services (see “Flat River Acquiring Impressions“). Read more.
Flat River Group acquires Greater Than Games
December 3, 2021 | Toy News
Flat River Group, an e-commerce business accelerator, announced today the acquisition of Greater Than Games, the tabletop game publisher, design house and consolidator. Founded in 2011 and based in St. Louis, Missouri, Greater Than Games publishes tabletop games including Sentinels of the Multiverse, Spirit Island, and Medium. Read more.
December 2, 2021 | Board Game Geek
Publisher Greater Than Games has been purchased by Flat River Group, which describes itself as "an e-commerce business accelerator" and which functions as a combined distributor, consolidator, and retail partner. Read more.
December 2, 2021 | The Toy Book
Flat River Group continues its expansion with another acquisition. The distributor of toys, games, and other consumer products revealed plans to grow its gaming business with the acquisition of Greater Than Games, a St. Louis-based tabletop game publisher, design house, and consolidator. Read more.
October 15, 2021 | Grand Rapids Business Journal
An e-commerce distributor promoted a director to vice president and hired five more buyers.
Belding-based Flat River Group said Tuesday, Oct. 12, it promoted Dan Myers, its former director of import purchasing and new business, to the role of vice president of purchasing and business development. In his new role, Myers will oversee the purchasing team. Read more.
October 13, 2021 | ICv2
Flat River Group announced that they have promoted Dan Myers to Vice President of Purchasing & Business Development, and also added five new buyers. Myers' previous role at Flat River was as their Director of Import Purchasing & New Business, a position he was hired to fill in March 2021. Read more.
October 12, 2021 | The Toy Book
Flat River Group, a distributor of toys, games, and other consumer products in addition to serving as a full-service provider of warehousing and fulfillment for a variety of e-commerce retailers, is strengthening its buying team. Read more.
August 20, 2021 | Grand Rapids Business Journal
Inc. magazine published its list of the 5,000 fastest-growing private companies in America, and 28 West Michigan businesses made the cut this year. The list, which was released Tuesday, represents a snapshot of the most successful companies within the American economy, and this year’s companies have proved resilient through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 and 2021. Read more.
August 17, 2021 | Inc. Magazine
A distributor of consumer products and a full-service provider of warehousing and fulfillment services to a variety of eCommerce retailers. Read more.
November 16, 2020 | Grand Rapids Business Journal
A toy and game distributor in West Michigan acquired an out-of-state wholesale distributor of consumer products for e-commerce channels. Belding-based Flat River Group said last week that it recently acquired Peru, Illinois-based Optimum Fulfillment.
September 7, 2020 | Grand Rapids Business Journal
A toy and game distributor in the region added new space in Kentwood, hired two senior staff members and appointed a board member. Matt Stahlin, co-founder and president of Belding-based Flat River Group, told the Business Journal last week that his company opened a new, 160,000-square-foot distribution center at 3729 Patterson Ave. SE in Kentwood on Aug. 1.
July 20, 2020 | MiBiz
To take pressure off of its existing two facilities, Flat River Group recently announced the opening of a new 160,000 square foot distribution center in Kentwood. The facility is at 3729 Patterson Ave. SE, near the Gerald R. Ford International Airport.
January 26, 2020 | MiBiz
Guardian Capital Partners, a private equity firm based in Wayne, Pa., has partnered with the executive management team at Belding-based Flat River Group LLC to acquire the company.
January 9, 2020 | Business Wire
Guardian Capital Partners, a private equity firm based in Wayne, Pa., has partnered with the executive management team at Belding-based Flat River Group LLC to acquire the company.
August 16, 2017 | Grand Rapids Business Journal
The annual "Inc. 5000" ranks the fastest-growing private companies in the U.S., based on revenue growth over the last three years. A local financial services firm is the No. 10 fastest-growing private company in the nation and the first among Michigan companies named to the 2017 “Inc. 5000” ranking. Read more.