Werner Electric Supply Co., headquartered in Neenah, Wis., has purchased Best Electric Supply Co. of Milwaukee.
The acquisition expands Werner Electric’s territory to include all of southeastern Wisconsin, with the addition of three new service centers in Milwaukee, Menomonee Falls and Racine.
"This is an important strategic move for us,” said Lynn T. MacDonald, president/CEO of Werner Electric Supply. “We now service the largest metropolitan market in the state of Wisconsin."
Combined sales for Werner Electric and Best Electric are projected to reach $150 million in 2005. The additional locations in Milwaukee, Menomonee Falls and Racine give the Neenah-based company a total of 11 service centers throughout Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
"We continue to strive to provide our customers with convenient local service while giving them the advantages of a large regional distributor,"MacDonald said. "This paves the way for increased economic stability in the future as we diversify our customer base. The more industries we serve the less vulnerable we are to fluctuations in the economy."
Customers of Best Electric will soon have access to more than $10 million of inventory with next-day delivery. "We have nearly completed a 46,000-square-foot addition to our regional distribution center in Neenah," said Al Needham, vice president of logistics for Werner Electric. "This addition will help us accommodate the increased capacity required by our new customers."
Founded in 1975, Best Electric has 50 employees in its three locations. It covers industrial, residential and construction markets. Sales in 2004 exceeded $14 million. It also has the distinction of being the largest distributor of Cutler-Hammer products in Wisconsin, the company said.
"This acquisition will help us increase our product and service levels state-wide," MacDonald said. "Every move we make is with our customers’ best interests in mind."
Werner Electric Supply of Wisconsin, with eight locations, 247 employees and more than $121 million in annual sales, ranked No. 46 in Electrical Wholesaling magazine’s Top 200 listing in June 2005.