Buying and marketing group Affiliated Distributors, Wayne, PA, reported sales for the first six months of 2015 were $16.7 billion for all AD members, across all seven divisions. Sales increased 4 percent in the second quarter.

During the second quarter, AD announced a merger with Canaplus, expanding the organization into the Canadian plumbing and heating industries.

"New markets, new geographies and core member growth are three pillars to our strategic growth plans," AD CEO Bill Weisberg said.

By division, AD member second quarter sales grew year-over-year as follows: U.S. electrical up 5 percent; Canadian electrical up 11 percent; industrial up 1 percent; plumbing up 5 percent; PVF up 3 percent; HVAC up 7 percent; and building materials up 11 percent.