To successfully integrate its company and grab market share, Interline Brands has had to pay close attention to and respond to the needs of acquired and current customers, Interline Brands President William Sanford said recently at the JPMorgan Basics & Industrials Conference.

In fact, learning about customers starts before an acquisition is even made, he said. The relationships we acquire are important. We have to understand how strong those relationships are before we make an investment," Sanford said.

The $1 billion distributor of facilities maintenance products was formed through a series of mergers of more than 20 companies in the plumbing supply and facilities maintenance industries.

Last year it bought American Sanitary Inc., a rollup and national …