Distribution Industry News

But Grainger executives suggested the bigger shift is not simply improving industrial demand. Instead, customers are increasingly relying on distributors to manage operational work previously handled internally.

Kevin Pitcock, president and chief executive officer of Peak Trading, said the transaction gives his customers access to expanded logistics and deeper inventory.

The combined company, which serves commercial and institutional customers across the United States and Canada with janitorial and sanitation supplies, foodservice products and industrial packaging, employs more than 13,000 people and generates approximately $10 billion in annual revenue.

President and CEO David Jukes will transition to executive chair effective July 1, capping a tenure that included leading the company through its 2023 shift from public to private ownership.

AmeriGas separately launched online sales of propane cylinders on Amazon in selected cities, with plans to expand the service across existing home-delivery markets during fiscal 2026.

Independent restaurant volume grew 4.6% in the quarter, outpacing the company’s total case volume increase by 1.4%.

DXP’s Service Centers segment, its largest business unit, reported sales of $338.0 million, up 3.3% from $327.1 million a year earlier.

The Chicago-based distributor said first quarter sales increased 10.1% year over year to $4.74 billion, up from $4.31 billion in the same period last year.

Longer supplier lead times and higher freight costs could force distributors to hold more inventory while adjusting pricing more frequently to protect margins.

Doug Reichert joins Heritage after serving as region president at Carrier Enterprise. Before that, he spent more than 20 years at Ferguson, where he helped expand the company’s HVAC operations.