News

The addition of Peak Group strengthens United Flow Technologies’ position in the Mountain West and broadens its access to municipal and industrial customers in a region experiencing population growth and increasing infrastructure investment.

The data indicates distributors are continuing to rebuild inventory levels but remain cautious about committing to larger stock positions despite signs of strengthening demand elsewhere in the economy.

The most significant developments centered on four areas: artificial intelligence in employment decisions, extended producer responsibility (EPR) programs for packaging, rising wage requirements, and restrictions on traditional workforce management practices.

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.