Grainger Sales & Profit Grow

Jason Sandefur

W.W. Grainger reported sales grew 6% to $1.4 billion during the first quarter of 2006, while net earnings increased 18.5% to $86.2 million. Q1 inventories grew by $64 million.
Grainger’s Branch sales segment its U.S., Mexico and China operations saw sales rise 4.6% to $1.18 billion and operating earnings improve 21% to $133 million. Grainger has 400 branches and 18 will-call express facilities in the U.S., and six sites in Mexico.
Grainger’s Acklands Branch segment the company’s Canadian division reported an 18.7% gain in sales to $139 million, boosted by a favorable exchange rate. Grainger operates 164 branches in Canada.
Grainger recently undertook what Purchasing magazine described as “the biggest product expansion in its 78-year history,” adding more than 25,000 SKUs of fasteners to its product offerings. Web: grainger.com �2006 FastenerNews.com