Distribution Industry News

The departure comes only 14 months after Builders FirstSource appointed Gayatri Narayan to the newly created position of president of technology and digital solutions in June 2025.

The battery system will capture excess electricity generated by the solar array for use at other times, allowing UNFI to better manage demand on the electrical grid and the power requirements of its growing electric truck fleet.

For distributors, slower hiring typically translates into softer demand for industrial supplies, construction products, maintenance, repair and operations products, and other categories tied to business investment and economic activity.

The Census report also suggests distributors entered the second half of 2026 with relatively lean inventories, providing flexibility should demand strengthen later in the year.

Henry Schein joins a growing list of distributors, including W.W. Grainger, Sysco, and DNOW, that are embedding AI into customer-facing applications and internal operations to improve productivity, automate routine work, and strengthen customer relationships.

For the first six months of 2026, revenue increased to $2.49 billion, up 102.9% from $1.23 billion a year earlier.

The company said it continues to focus on independent restaurants, one of its fastest-growing customer segments, as part of its long-term strategy to gain market share.

Founded in 1974, Mequipco operates three locations serving British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. DXP financed the acquisition with cash and shares of common stock. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

The new facility is part of White Cap’s continuing investment in its North American distribution network as the company expands capacity to support faster fulfillment and improve supply chain efficiency.

For the fiscal year ending June 27, Avnet reported sales of $27.63 billion, up 24.5% from $22.20 billion in fiscal 2025.