U.K.-based Bunzl plc, the international distribution and outsourcing group, reported sales for the third quarter ended Sept. 27, 2008, increased 15% compared to the same period a year ago.
The increase is attributable to organic growth, acquisitions and currency exchange rates. Year-to-date, the company has announced acquisitions with total annualized revenue of £148 million (US$253 …
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Genuine Parts Company, Atlanta, GA, reported sales of $2.9 billion for the third quarter ended Sept. 30, 2008, an increase of 3% over third quarter 2007. Profit for the quarter was $131 million, an increase of 2%.
For the first nine months, sales increased 3% to $8.5 billion. Profit was $387.6 million, an increase of 2% for the same period the prior year.
Three of four segments saw sales improvement in the third quarter. Sales in EIS, the Electrical Group, increased 13%. Motion Industries improved sales by 7%. The Automotive Group reported sales increases of 1%. S.P. Richards, which distributes office products, saw sales remain flat as compared to the same period the prior year.
Genuine Parts Company is a distributor of automotive replacement parts …
United Stationers Inc., Deerfield, IL, master distributor of business, jan-san and industrial products, has tapped Stephen A. Schultz to the position of group president, LagasseSweet and ORS Nasco.
In this new role, he will assume responsibility for setting and monitoring the delivery of strategic goals and objectives for both business units. Schultz joined Lagasse, the company’s janitorial and breakroom supplies division, in early 1999 and has served as its president since 2001.
Todd A. Shelton has been promoted to president of LagasseSweet after serving since 2005 as its COO. Shelton joined Lagasse in 2001, directing its financial and operational functions. In his new role, he will be responsible for leading LagasseSweet in the development and execution of …
Bunzl plc reported sales for the six months ended June 30, 2008, were up 14% to £1,964.2 million (constant currency +10%).
Overall trading was strong despite increasingly difficult economic conditions as the year has progressed, particularly in the UK and the eurozone,” said Anthony Habgood, chairman. “These results again demonstrate Bunzl’s strength across its international markets and its ability to take advantage of growth opportunities.”
Bunzl also announced it has completed two acquisitions in Spain.
The company has recently purchased Marca Protección Laboral SL and Marvel Protección Laboral SL. Marca and Marvel supply personal protection equipment, principally workwear and clothing, to redistributors throughout …
United Stationers Inc., Deerfield, IL, master distributor of business products, reported its wholly owned subsidiary, United Stationers Supply Co., has agreed to buy the New Jersey business of Emco Distribution, LLC, for $15 million.
We are absolutely delighted to have the opportunity to work with Emco’s customers and continue providing them with the quality of customer service that they are accustomed to,”said Cody Phipps, president of United Stationers Supply.
United Stationers Inc. had sales in 2007 of $4.6 billion. The company stocks over 100,000 items, including technology products, traditional office products, janitorial and breakroom supplies, office furniture, and industrial …
The Office Products Group of Genuine Parts Co., Atlanta, GA -S.P. Richards Company -has agreed to buy the Midwestern U.S. business assets of ActionEmco. ActionEmco is a regional office products distributor.
S.P. Richards is buying the business the company services from its Grand Rapids, MI, distribution center. The company expects the purchase to generate additional annual revenues of $50 million.
Thomas C. Gallagher, president and CEO of Genuine Parts, said: Like S.P. Richards, ActionEmco has been actively involved in the office products industry for many years and both companies have shown considerable growth in their Midwest business over the years. We believe this combination is a very good fit for S.P. Richards, ActionEmco and our customers, and we look …
United Stationers Inc., Deerfield, IL, master distributor of business, janitorial/breakroom and industrial products, reported sales in the second quarter 2008 were up 9.7% to $1.25 billion.
Seven percent of the growth rate came from ORS Nasco, which was acquired in December 2007.
Sales were up nearly 14.4% in the janitorial/breakroom category, up modestly in office products and technology, and partially offset by an 8% decrease in furniture sales.
Sales in the first half 2008 rose 7.3% increase over the prior year, with 6.6% related to ORS Nasco.
Our supplier and reseller partners continue to tell us that the marketing and distribution services we offer as a wholesaler are even more critical during times of slow growth, high fuel costs …
Hicks Acquisition Company has agreed to buy Graham Packaging Holdings Co., York, PA, and then take it public with the Graham Group and The Blackstone Group in a transaction valued at $3.2 billion.
The company will be renamed Graham Packaging Co. after the deal is completed and will be listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Blackstone has agreed to hold the largest ownership stake for at least two years.
Graham Packaging had about $2.5 billion in sales in 2007. The company supplies blow-molded rigid plastic containers for the branded food and beverage, household, personal care/specialty and automotive lubricant industries. The company supplies many global consumer product companies, including PepsiCo, Coca-Cola, Danone/Dannon, Ocean Spray, Heinz, Abbott, Arizona …
After four months and four bids, retailer Staples Inc., Framingham, MA, finally found the formula for reeling in Corporate Express NV. The offer to purchase the international office supplies distributor received the recommendation for approval from Corporate Express’s supervisory and executive boards on June 11.
The move represents a significant shift in business focus for Staples that until now has centered on the retail market. After this acquisition, 60% of its business will be in the delivery and contract markets.
It’s a great strategic fit that continues to build the delivery side of our business,”Paul Capelli, Staples vice president for public relations, tells MDM. In North America, delivery has been the fastest growing and most profitable segment for …
Corporate Express NV, supplier of office products, will recommend to its shareholders they accept an increased cash offer from Staples Inc. to buy the company. Staples has offered €9.25 a share, compared with previous offers of €7.25 and €8.00. At current exchange rates, the offer values Corporate Express at about US$4.8 billion.
Together, the companies -one primarily a distributor and the other a retailer -will serve customers in 28 countries and have annual revenues about more than €18 billion (US$27 …
Wrap-N-Pack, Farmingdale, NY, a distributor of industrial packaging, has acquired Maspeth, NY-based The Freight Container Company, Inc.
Freight Container supplies corrugated packaging materials, which will be added to the packaging options already available from Wrap-N-Pack.
The acquisition of Freight Container is Wrap-N-Pack’s third acquisition in the past year. …
Staples Inc. has bought a 12.3% stake in Corporate Express. The move is the latest in Staples’ bid to take over the global office supplies distributor.
Corporate Express announced June 5 it would meet with Staples to discuss the company’s increased offer of €9.15 per share for the distributor (roughly US$2.5 billion total). The bid follows previous offers, which were rejected by Corporate Express earlier this year.
Staples’ offer is contingent on Corporate Express shareholders’ rejection of a planned merger between Corporate Express and European office supplies distributor Lyreco SAS. The transaction was announced on May 21. According to a recent news release, the merger with Lyreco would create a €7.8 billion B2B player in Europe, North America and …
United Stationers Inc., Deerfield, IL, reported first quarter 2008 sales were up 5% to $1.25 billion. The December 2007 acquisition of ORS Nasco added $74 million. Excluding acquisitions, sales were down 1.2%.
We are taking action to help offset the effects of a weaker economy that adversely affected sales, particularly in higher margin discretionary products,” said Richard W. Gochnauer, president and CEO. “We reduced product purchases and are managing inventory levels consistent with the sales environment. These actions reduced volume-related supplier allowances earned, while improving inventory turnover, working capital efficiency and cash flow. On a positive note, our sales and earnings were boosted by the investments we have made in the janitorial/breakroom category and …
Weyerhaeuser Company, Federal Way, WA, has sold its Containerboard Packaging and Recycling business to International Paper for $6 billion in cash. Weyerhaeuser said it expects to use a substantial portion of the after-tax proceeds from the sale to pay down debt.
The transaction includes nine containerboard mills, 72 packaging locations, 10 specialty-packaging plants, four kraft bag and sack locations and 19 recycling facilities.
Steven R. Rogel, chairman and chief executive officer, said the announcement completes the company’s strategic review of the CBPR business.
The transaction is currently expected to close in the second half of 2008. International Paper has committed financing for the entire purchase price.
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Weyerhaeuser Company, a …
MDM spoke with United Stationers CEO Dick Gochnauer recently about the company’s move into the industrial sector as well as the role it plays as a master distributor. In Part II of this interview, Gochnauer addresses private label, recruiting and retaining employees and data-sharing.
MDM: How is United Stationers preparing for a potential economic slowdown in the next year?
Dick Gochnauer: I have less concern over industrial, foodservice and JanSan. In the office products space, we are seeing a slowdown. We saw it starting to occur in 2007. We figured it was coming and it did. We are prepared if the economic slowdown continues in 2008. We are planning to get growth but know that it may be more challenging. The good news in the office …
United Stationers Inc., Deerfield, IL, reported sales in 2007 grew 2.2% to $4.6 billion. This increase reflected continued strong growth in the janitorial and breakroom supplies category.
Sales for the fourth quarter were $1.1 billion, up 0.6% compared with the prior-year period. After adjusting for an additional workday in 2007, sales were down 1.1%.
First quarter organic sales to date are trending up approximately 1.6% over the same time last year, driven by strong revenues from janitorial and breakroom supplies,” said CEO Richard Gochnauer. “Office product sales remain soft. Including incremental sales related to ORS Nasco, reported revenues to date are up approximately 7.3%, compared to the prior year.”
“Our focus on profitable growth …
United Stationers, with sales approaching $5 billion, is a master distributor of business, foodservice and janitorial supplies, and recently moved into the industrial space with the purchase of ORS Nasco, a master distributor of industrial supplies with sales of close to $300 million.
MDM recently sat down with United Stationers’CEO Dick Gochnauer to talk about United’s recent move into the industrial sector, as well as what the company is seeing in the various market segments it serves. United Stationers has recently embarked on a journey to expand its e-commerce capabilities with its distributor customers.
It also plans to spread best practices from its core competency -office products distribution -into other segments: JanSan (served by its …
Roark Capital Group, an Atlanta-based private equity firm, has completed its acquisition of Weyerhaeuser’s Distribution Center, south of Boston in Assonet, MA. WDC is a wholesale distributor of building products, with a specialization in engineered wood products.
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The operations of WDC have been acquired by a subsidiary of Wood Structures, Inc., a company owned by affiliates of Roark Capital. Based in Biddeford, ME, Wood Structures is a manufacturer and designer of manufactured wood products, including roof trusses, floor trusses and wall panels, and distributor of engineered wood products, which are used in residential and commercial buildings.
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WDC is very complimentary to Wood Structures,” said Lawrence J. DeAngelo, managing director at Roark. “This …
Pactiv Corporation, Lake Forest, IL, has acquired Prairie Packaging, Inc., a manufacturer of disposable tableware products for $1 billion, or 7X EBITDA. Prairie’s 2007 sales are expected to be $500 million.
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Prairie manufactures a broad range of tableware and foodservice products, including drink cups, portion cups, containers, cutlery, plates, and bowls. The company operates five manufacturing facilities in the U.S.
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Pactiv is a supplier in the consumer and foodservice/food packaging markets. Pactiv had 2006 sales of $2.9 …
OfficeSource Inc., Denver, CO, wholesaler of office furniture, today announced it has acquired NDI Wholesale, Nashville, TN, independent office furniture wholesaler in the Southeast.
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NDI Wholesale services more than 530 active customers throughout a seven-state region, including Kentucky, Tennessee, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and Florida.
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The addition of NDI Wholesale fits our business model and strategy perfectly,” explained Todd Elmers, chairman and CEO. “It takes our coast-to-coast presence another step closer toward a full nationwide distribution network.”
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NDI Wholesale complements OfficeSource’s existing locations, products and services. NDI Wholesale dealers provide a complete array of office furniture as well as …
