Distribution Industry News

First-quarter shipments totaled 1.1 million tons, down 6.4% from a year earlier, primarily due to the divestiture of eight U.S. distribution locations completed at the end of 2025.

The company said it has processed more than 8 million sales orders and $5 billion in payables across its customer base.

Owens & Minor now operates as a standalone private company serving more than 4,100 healthcare facilities nationwide with more than 200,000 products sourced from over 1,400 suppliers.

For distributors, the revised data reinforces concerns that the second half of 2026 could bring slower order growth, increased pricing pressure, and tighter customer spending across multiple end markets.

Evergreen’s closure reflects broader competitive pressures facing midsize buying groups and regional cooperatives across wholesale distribution.

BakeMark, based in Pico Rivera, California, distributes bakery ingredients, supplies, and related products to more than 30,000 customers across the United States and Canada.

Bill Westerman joined Genuine Parts Co. in 2004, where he served as a division president for 12 years before being promoted to chief operating officer of NAPA Auto Parts. Most recently, he was CEO and a board member at Road Tested Parts.

CEO Barry Litwin said the new executives were brought in to strengthen the company’s commercial operations, supplier partnerships, and digital commerce capabilities.

While full-year 2025 deal activity increased only modestly, momentum has strengthened entering 2026 as strategic buyers and private equity firms continue pursuing acquisitions across propane, commercial fuels, and petroleum distribution.

Strategic buyers accounted for the largest share of acquisitions during the quarter, outpacing private equity and hybrid buyers.