Why This Matters to Distributors: GMS, backed by The Home Depot’s acquisition of SRS Distribution, continues adding regional distributors to its network, increasing competitive pressure on independent building products distributors in western markets.
GMS Inc. has acquired the assets of Frontier Drywall Supply, LLC, a distributor of wallboard, steel framing and interior building products operating three locations in Denver, Fort Collins and Colorado Springs, Colorado.
GMS, which operates more than 320 distribution centers across the United States and Canada, is a subsidiary of SRS Distribution, itself a wholly owned subsidiary of The Home Depot. The acquisition adds Frontier’s Colorado operations to GMS’s Northwest Division, where they will operate under the Pioneer Materials West brand. Financial terms were not disclosed.
The deal gives GMS its first location in the Colorado Springs market. Andy Frank and Jay Haddick, Frontier’s managing partners, will continue leading the business.
“We are excited to welcome Frontier Drywall Supply and its team of highly respected professionals to GMS,” said John C. Turner Jr., president and chief executive officer of GMS. “Bringing Frontier into the GMS family of brands demonstrates continuation of the growth plan of The Home Depot and SRS as we execute our expansion strategy by adding our core wallboard and steel product offerings in Colorado’s growing market.”
The acquisition is the latest in a series of bolt-on deals GMS has completed since becoming part of The Home Depot’s distribution platform. Recent transactions include the acquisition of Above Interior Distributors in the Miami-Dade market and Brown Machinery, a four-location supplier serving Oklahoma and North Texas.
For independent building products distributors in Colorado and surrounding western markets, the pattern is consistent. GMS is systematically filling geographic gaps in its network by acquiring established regional operators, retaining their management, and existing customer relationships and rebranding under one of its divisional banners. The combined resources of GMS, SRS and The Home Depot give the acquiring platform procurement leverage and service capabilities that most independent regional distributors cannot match.
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