2012 Big 50 List

The 2012 Big 50 List is a compilation of the top industrial distributors in the world, with revenues ranging from just over $100 million, to the giants posting multi-billion dollar sales numbers. To see last year's list, visit the 2011 Big 50 List. Do you think your company should be on it next year?

Sep 17, 2012

ID's Annual List of the Top Industrial Distributors

It seems the years since 2009 have carried extra meaning, as each Big 50 becomes more and more of a “survivor’s list.” The economic pressure has eased for many, although new, perhaps more troubling intangibles take its place: how to battle aggressive online competition, anticipate the effects of universal healthcare, and hedge fiscal and employment bets against the potential change heading into an election year.

In addition: As pent-up demand for strategic acquisitions propelled change post-2010, we see a marketplace in fluctuation. Some emerge stronger from this massive change, and some don’t emerge at all — all evidenced by the changes on this year’s Big 50 List. As our readers told us in the latest iteration of the ID Survey of Distributor Operations, nearly a third of you were looking to purchase another distributor, and 25 percent had either merged/been acquired or been approached in the year previous. By late spring of 2012, there were already 35 transactions in this market, according to C.A. Burkhardt of HT Capital Advisors, and the marketplace shows no signs of slowing.

The information we received this year highlights lots of acquisition, but also shows many companies turning inward to improvements in warehousing, services, inventory management, IT, and staff development. It indicates a hunger amongst this group of companies to remain strong and stay ahead of the pack. What this means is, no matter the challenges set forth, the industrial distribution marketplace is not taking competition lying down. This type of aggressive planning and nimble response to a chaotic marketplace and global economy is what makes The Big 50 great, and we’re excited to publish another list of these progressive businesses — each one of whom has truly earned their place.

Editor’s Note: As of 9/13, this list was updated to include DXP Enterprises.

1. Wolseley - $21.3 billion

2. Sonepar - $20.5 billion

3. Rexel - $15.8 billion

4. Wurth Group - $13.5 billion

5. W.W. Grainger - $8.1 billion

6. HD Supply - $7 billion

7. WESCO - $6.1 billion

8. Anixter - $6.1 billion

9. Graybar - $5.4 billion

10. MRC Global - $4.8 billion

11. Airgas - $4.7 billion