The 2014 Industrial Distribution Big 50 List

This list reviews the 2013 fiscal year sales results for the companies represented and, for many, sales were relatively flat. Some notable companies even went backwards in 2013, and its no surprise based on variables like confusing regulations, unemployment, and the October government shutdown. With the right tools and resources, some of these companies will have every opportunity to achieve lift-off.

This list reviews the 2013 fiscal year sales results for the companies represented and, for many, sales were relatively flat. Some notable companies even went backwards in 2013, and it's no surprise based on variables like confusing regulations, unemployment, and the October government shutdown. Unfortunately for those companies, 2014 kicked off with its own challenges, including a “polar vortex” that brought record low temperatures and froze many balance sheets as well. Not to mention, many small businesses still felt crippled by constant infighting at a federal level, as requirements remained in limbo.
 
Luckily, we have a chance to survey our audience extensively each year with our annual June Survey of Distributor Operations and I’m happy to report that, for many, mid-year 2014 outlooks were better. In fact, the number of those who cited the economy as one of their primary concerns was lower than it’s been since 2008. Nearly two-thirds had said their sales have increased, and over half said the same about their profits.
 
And if distributors use this opportunity to take on a strategy of growth, we’ll likely continue to see consolidation, product line expansions, more e-commerce functionality, and additional hiring. In fact, e-commerce was one challenge that, per our survey, is growing in its status as a primary concern. So is price competition, which suggests that many of these companies – The Big 50 all the way down to the Little 50 – are keeping a close eye on emerging online players like AmazonSupply and Alibaba. This may be why more of our Big 50 companies talked about IT investments when we asked them what they’d been up to this past year.
 
Other investments will likely come by way of consolidation, and many companies are taking an aggressive look at the market and how they can capitalize on the consolidation boom. With the right tools and resources, some of these companies will have every opportunity to achieve lift-off.
 
1. Wolseley - $21.6 billion
 
2. Wurth Group - $13.1 billion
 
3. W.W. Grainger - $9.4 billion
 
4. HD Supply - $8.5 billion
 
5. WESCO - $7.5 billion
 
6. Anixter - $6.2 billion
 
7. MRC Global - $5.2 billion
 
8. Airgas - $5.0 billion
 
9. Motion Industries - $4.5 billion
 
10. DistributionNow - $4.3 billion
 
11. Descours et Cabaud (Dillon Supply & BMB Metals) - $4.0 billion
 
12. Fastenal - $3.3 billion
 
 
14. MSC Industrial Supply - $2.46 billion
 
15. ERIKs nv - $2.3 billion
 
16. WinWholesale Inc. - $2.2 billion
 
17. Interline Brands Inc. - $1.6 billion
 
18. Edgen Group - $1.3 billion
 
19. DXP Enterprises, Inc. - $1.2 billion
 
 
21. F.W. Webb Company - $850 million
 
 
23. BDI - $659 million
 
 
25. Bossard - $607.7 million
 
26. EIS, Inc. - $563 million
 
27. Turtle & Hughes - $556 million
 
28. EWIE Group - $363 million
 
29. Blackhawk Industrial - $350 million
 
30. Wajax Industrial Components - $340 million
 
31. DGI Supply - $330 million
 
32. Gas and Supply - $325 million
 
33. AWC, Inc. - $320 million
 
34. Essex Brownell - $300 million
 
35. R.S. Hughes Company, Inc. - $278 million
 
36. Production Tool Supply - $276 million
 
37. Lawson Products, Inc. - $270 million
 
38. Van Meter Inc. - $235 million
 
39. Hydradyne LLC - $225 million
 
40. FCX Performance, Inc. - $217 million
 
 
42. Kimball Midwest - $190 million
 
43. Tencarva Machinery Company - $187 million
 
44. Valin Corporation - $183 million
 
45. Womack Machine Supply Co. - $172 million
 
46. Shively Bros. Inc. - $167 million
 
47. Perry Supply, Inc. $153 million
 
48. IBT Industrial Solutions - $146 million
 
49. JGB Enterprises Inc. - $124 million
 
50. Cummins-Wagner Co. Inc. - $100 million
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