Distribution Industry News

Border States describes copper supply constraints as increasingly structural rather than temporary. Mining disruptions and declining ore grades at older mines restrict output, putting pressure on smelters and rod mills and limiting the industry’s ability to respond quickly to rising demand.

Badger distributes heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment, parts, and supplies to contractors. Founded in 1913, the fourth-generation, family-led business will retain its brand and continue operating under father and son Joe and Josh Welch.

Granite’s sales have grown at a compound annual rate of 10% since 2010, supported by acquisitions and more than 30 new locations, according to Watsco. The company plans to support further expansion while preserving Granite’s operating independence.

The combination of bulk inventory and job-site delivery targets services that building materials distributors provide to professional customers.

For the first eight months of 2026, wholesale sales totaled $6.26 trillion, up 12.9% from the same period in 2025, according to the report’s unadjusted figures.

The relocation follows BlackHawk’s December 2023 acquisition of Alro Industrial Supply, which included operations in Jackson and Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Clearwater, Florida.

For distributors, the unanswered question is how those sales opportunities would be divided among Schneider’s direct sales organization, software partners, and distribution network.

Based in Schofield, Wisconsin, Wausau Supply operates more than 20 distribution centers serving a territory that stretches from the Pacific Coast to the upper East Coast..