Racket

Name

Racket

Legal name

Racket Merchandise Company

Website

https://www.racketgroup.com/

Company type

Private

Founded year

1891

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Kansas City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Passenger Service Products Manufacturing & Supply: Design, manufacturing, and supply of bespoke and in-stock passenger service products for airlines including comfort items, tableware, service equipment, and amenity kits.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Racket Group designs, manufactures, and supplies a portfolio of physical passenger service products and amenities for commercial airlines, including comfort items, ice and beverage service equipment, meal service products, tableware and flatware, in-flight entertainment accessories, and family/kids engagement products. The company offers both in-stock catalog items for immediate shipment and bespoke custom-designed products, supported by an in-house design team and global warehouses in North America, Europe, and Asia.

Product overview

Racket Group provides a comprehensive portfolio of physical passenger service products and design/manufacturing services for airlines. The company operates as a unified offering combining bespoke design services with efficient manufacturing and reliable supply chain logistics across North America, Europe, and Asia. The product portfolio spans multiple categories including: Comfort Items (Pillows, Blankets, Duvets, Neck Pillows, Branded Slippers), Ice Service Equipment (Scoops, Tongs, Clappers, Ice Buckets), Meal Service Products (Trays, Caddies, Tableware, Flatware, Table Linens), Beverage Service (Coffee/Tea Pots, Cups), In-Flight Entertainment (Headphones, Earbuds), Family/Kids Products (Activity Books, Games, Toys), Passenger Amenities (Kits, Bags, Hangers, Oshibori Towels), and Snack Storage (Baskets in various materials). The company also offers consulting services for Data-Driven Insights, User Experience Design, and Business Growth. Founded in 1891, the company is in its 6th generation of family ownership under the Hoagland family, with offices in Kansas City, Brussels, and Hong Kong.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Comfort Items Passenger comfort items including blankets, duvets, sheets, mattress covers, pillows, neck pillows, branded slippers, and seat covers designed for airline cabin service.
• Ice Service Equipment (Scoops, Tongs, Clappers, Ice Buckets) Ice tongs, ice scoops, ice clappers, ice buckets, and related service items for in-flight beverage service, including FDA and CDC compliant custom ice scoops.
• Trays and Caddies Standard or bespoke service and meal trays produced in various materials with lightweight, ergonomic designs and customized branding options.
• Tableware and Flatware Elegant, lightweight, and durable tableware and flatware designed to highlight unique airline meal service programs, with sustainable options available.
• Table Linens Napkins, cart covers, and tray liners in fresh, elegant, and modern designs to elevate in-flight meal service experience.
• Headphones and Earbuds High-quality earbuds and headband headsets for in-flight entertainment (IFE) programming access, available in various styles including noise-canceling, custom colors, and child-specific designs.
• Family and Kids Products Unique, educational, and engaging programs including family activity books, coloring pages, games, puzzles, plush toys, custom passport-style materials, and luggage tags for young passengers.
• Coffee and Tea Pots Double-walled or single coffee brew pots and serving pots in stainless steel, plastic, or combination materials for in-flight coffee and tea service.
• Snack Baskets and Storage Wicker, bamboo, rattan, and plastic snack baskets and storage solutions for highly customizable in-flight service systems.
• Coat Hangers Lightweight and durable coat hangers available in various materials and designs to meet specific airline system needs and budgets.
• Kits and Bags Custom kits designed for passenger comfort and convenience, including business bags, wallets, zip top bags, and formed plastic containers.
• Custom Face Masks Custom face masks designed for airline passengers to ensure health and safety during travel.
• Oshibori and Refreshing Towels Hot towel (oshibori) service and budget-friendly refreshing towels for passenger comfort during airline service.
• Data-Driven Insights Service Data collection and analysis services that help aviation customers understand and utilize customer data to improve passenger experience.
• User Experience Design Service Experience and expertise to support understanding of customer needs, interpreting data, and building flexible solutions centered around user needs.
• Business Growth Consulting Consulting that utilizes existing customer data to maximize ancillary sales and growth, helping airline customers shape and meet future business goals.
• Design Solutions Service Designing in both physical and digital spaces to create engaging and memorable experiences centered around user needs.
• Manufacturing and Logistics Service Manufacturing and logistics with warehouses in North America, Europe, and Asia providing safety stock and efficient distribution to airline customers.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• gategroup: One of the world's largest airline catering and onboard hospitality companies. gategroup supplies tableware, comfort items, amenity kits, and other passenger service products to global airlines, directly overlapping with Racket's product portfolio and customer base.
• FORMIA: Specialized airline amenity kit and passenger comfort products supplier offering bespoke design and manufacturing solutions, primarily to premium cabin programs. Highly comparable business model and customer profile to Racket.

Broad incumbents

• dnata: Dubai-based comprehensive airline services company providing catering, ground handling, and onboard passenger products including comfort items and amenities to global airlines. Broader portfolio than Racket but overlapping passenger service products.
• Lufthansa Technik: Major aircraft MRO and cabin services company providing passenger comfort items, tableware, and amenity programs to airlines globally. A much larger incumbent with overlapping cabin product capabilities serving similar airline customers.
• Collins Aerospace: Large diversified aerospace supplier (formerly B/E Aerospace) with cabin interior products including passenger service items. Offers overlapping capabilities to Racket as part of a much wider portfolio of aircraft systems and interiors.
• Recaro Aircraft Seating: Aircraft seating manufacturer with broader cabin interior portfolio. While primarily focused on seats, the company supplies related cabin comfort products to commercial airlines, putting it adjacent to Racket's passenger service offering.

Regional players

• Avianor: Montreal-based aircraft interior solutions provider with cabin outfitting and passenger service capabilities, primarily serving North American carriers. Operates in the same product space but with regional concentration.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/racketgroup
• Instagraminstagram.com/racketgroup

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Racket