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Industry Loses Longtime Distributor

Loren W. Frendt passed away October 26, 2020. He was 87 years old.

Frendt was born January 1, 1933 in St. Paul, Minnesota. As a child, one of his Sunday school teachers was Charles M. Schulz, creator of the comic strip Peanuts. At the age of 14, Frendt moved to Anderson, Indiana, where he later graduated from Anderson High School and subsequently Anderson University.

Frendt’s career in the cleaning industry began in 1959 when founded Duo Sanitary Supply Co., an Anderson-based janitorial supply distributor. After selling Duo Sanitary in 1969, he relocated to Dallas to take on the position of vice president of distribution for H.B. Fuller Co.  In 1973, Frendt moved to Toledo, Ohio, to operate Matt King Supply Co. Three years later, Frendt acquired Hammons Products, relocating the company from Fort Wayne, Indiana, to Toledo. Frendt led the private-label custom manufacturer of skin care products with his son Todd until 1995, when they sold the company to the Steiner Co. Frendt then transitioned into consulting, a position he carried on well into his retirement years as Loren Frendt & Associates Consulting.

Frendt is survived by his wife of 47 years, four sons, 10 grandchildren, and 11 great grandchildren.