May 17, 2021 – “The AD community had an excellent start to 2021,” said AD’s chair & CEO Bill Weisberg. “The positive momentum that began in the back half of 2020 continued into this quarter, leaving us bullish for the balance of this year.”

AD is reporting member sales in the first quarter of 2021 were $12.7 billion, an increase of 14% across its 13 divisions and three countries.

Same-store sales were up 6%. Purchases by member companies from AD supplier partners were up 16%. Net distributions to its members were up 19%.

AD is a North American contractor and industrial products wholesale buying group. Its independent distributor member owners span 13 divisions, with annual sales exceeding $45 billion.

“Where there are areas of risk—particularly related to supply and demand imbalances—we’ve been impressed, for the most part, with how AD suppliers are treating their long-time channel partners,” Weisberg added.