DISTRIBUTORS/CO-OPS

Last year’s rough winter in many parts of the country – remember the frozen highway’s of Georgia? – continues to weigh on the collective mind of the hardware industry. 

Oak Brook, Ill.-based Ace Hardware Corp. posted total revenues of $908.2 million for the first quarter of 2012, an increase of 6.3% compared with 2011.

Net income was $10.2 million for the first quarter of 2012, an increase of 49.3% compared with $6.8 million in 2011.

There’s still quite a number of people left who remember the accomplishments of Arnold Gerberding,...

True Value member Point Hardware and Gifts, of Point Pleasant Beach, N.J., will be closing...

In a move described as a “preparation for strategic growth,” Portland, Maine-based Emery-Waterhouse announced the promotion of Megan Freise to Senior Brand Manager.  

In this new role, Freise will lead the development and execution of Emery’s brand messaging, emphasizing the renewed focus on retailer strategy and success.  

The company posted a net margin of $8.1 million, down 27.6% from $11.2 million in the year-ago period....

A groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday drew representatives from Ace and local business leaders to the site of a future retail support center in West Jefferson, Ohio.

The co-op expects the 500,000-sq.-ft. facility to be completed in July 2014. The facility will essentially replace an older facility currently operating in Toledo.

During the Oak Brook, Ill.-based hardware co-op’s spring market in Atlanta, executives communicated their mission and their vision.

Delivering good news early in the general session, CEO Ray Griffith pointed to sales of  $3.7 billion in fiscal 2011, up 5.1% from the previous year and stronger than the planned growth of 3%.