New York - Serta, the largest US mattress manufacturer, will end its business relationship with Donald Trump after he made disparaging comments about Mexican immigrants.
The company, which sells Trump Home-branded mattresses, will not renew its agreement with the billionaire presidential candidate when it expires at the end of the year, according to an emailed statement.
“Serta values diversity and does not agree with nor endorse the recent statements made by Mr Trump,” the company said in a statement on Wednesday. Serta is “in the process of unwinding our relationship”.
Serta is the latest company to distance itself from Trump following remarks he made in a June 16 speech announcing his run for president. In the speech, he accused Mexican immigrants of being rapists and bringing crime and drugs to the US.
After advocacy groups complained, Macy’s announced on Wednesday that it would phase out its Trump menswear line. Earlier in the week, NBCUniversal cut ties with Trump and said it wouldn’t be airing his annual Miss USA and Miss Universe Pageants.
Serta began selling Trump Home mattresses in 2009 in the US and Canada. The line is priced from $1 299 to $2 999.
The Hoffman Estates, Illinois-based company accounts for 20 percent of the US mattress market, according to market research firm IBISWorld. It is affiliated with National Bedding Company LLC, which is owned and managed by Serta Simmons Bedding LLC. It supplies many hotel chains, including ones owned by Marriott International, Hilton Worldwide Holdings, InterContinental Hotels Group and Choice Hotels International.
Bloomberg