Hillman

What Hillman does

Hillman Solutions Corp. (NASDAQ: HLMN) is a Cincinnati-based, publicly traded hardware, protective solutions, and robotics & digital solutions provider founded in 1964. The company operates three reporting segments: Hardware Solutions (fasteners under Power Pro, builder's hardware including Delaney Hardware, rope and chain from Koch Industries and Campbell Chain, and picture hanging under OOK); Protective Solutions (work gloves branded Firm Grip, Gorilla Grip, and Grease Monkey, jobsite storage, and cleaning textiles from Intex DIY); and Robotics & Digital Solutions, anchored by the MinuteKey self-service key duplication kiosks deployed at retail locations, including the new MinuteKey 3.5 platform capable of duplicating automotive transponder keys. Hillman generated record FY2025 net sales of $1.55 billion, up 5.4% year-over-year, with adjusted EBITDA of $275.3 million.

Hillman sells primarily through a direct-to-store delivery model from 22 distribution centers to approximately 40,000+ retail locations across North America, supported by a dedicated field sales and service team of 1,200+ associates who manage in-store product assortment, planograms, and replenishment. Key retail customers include Home Depot, Lowe's, Ace Hardware, Tractor Supply, PetSmart, Walmart, Amazon, and Canadian Tire, with average top-customer tenure of 24 years. Secondary channels include OTR Carry direct-to-consumer e-commerce (Hillman's first fully in-house DTC brand), the MinuteKey kiosk transaction-fee model ($5 for standard keys, $50-$100 for automotive transponder keys), and an emerging pro distribution and industrial MRO channel built through recent acquisitions.

Hillman has completed four acquisitions since January 2024 — Koch Industries, Intex DIY, Campbell Chain & Fittings, and Delaney Hardware — broadening its product portfolio to 111,000+ SKUs and adding U.S.-based manufacturing capacity. The company targets $2.5 billion in net sales by 2030 through an 8%-12% annual revenue CAGR, with a low-double-digit adjusted EBITDA CAGR. Institutional investors own approximately 98% of shares outstanding; Fitch upgraded the credit rating to BB from BB- in early 2026. CEO Jon Michael Adinolfi assumed the role on January 1, 2025, succeeding Doug Cahill.

Name

Hillman

Legal name

The Hillman Group, Inc.

Website

https://hillmangroup.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1964

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Hillman Solutions Corp. (NASDAQ: HLMN) is a publicly traded North American provider of hardware, protective, and robotics solutions serving 40,000+ retail locations through direct-to-store delivery, with 111,000+ SKUs spanning fasteners, work gloves, key duplication kiosks, and industrial MRO products.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Hardware Products & Distribution

NAICS

Hardware Retailers (444140), Home and Garden Equipment Repair and Maintenance (811411)

SIC

Wholesale-Construction & Mining (No Petro) Machinery & Equip (5082)

akta.pro primary industry

Workshop Services & Support (Tool Calibration/Repair, Equipment Installation/Maintenance, Training) (TLAKAOAN)

akta.pro secondary industry

Attachments & Work Tools MRO (Buckets, Breakers, Grapples, Augers, Forks) (TLAKAHAL)

Keywords

• Hardware fasteners
• Protective work gear
• Key duplication kiosks
• Industrial chain products
• Direct-store delivery

Headquarters

HQ city

Cincinnati

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Hardware Solutions (Fasteners): Core fastener business including power screws, nuts, bolts serving retail and pro channels. Products sold through direct-to-store delivery to home improvement retailers.
2. Protective Solutions: Work gloves, job site storage, protective gear, and cleaning products. Includes branded products like Firm Grip, Gorilla Grip, Grease Monkey, and recently acquired Intex DIY cleaning products.
3. Robotics and Digital Solutions: MinuteKey key duplication kiosks and TagWorks, generating transaction fees. MinuteKey 3.5 expands into automotive transponder keys ($50-$100 transactions vs. $5 standard keys).
4. Industrial MRO Products: Chain, rope, hardware products for industrial, commercial, and agricultural applications. Expanded through acquisitions of Campbell Chain & Fittings and Koch Industries.
5. Direct-to-Consumer (OTR Carry): Everyday carry essentials including pocketknives, keychains, carabiners, and pet accessories sold through own e-commerce platform and retail partners.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels10 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Hillman provides hardware, protective, and robotics & digital solutions to retail, pro distribution, and industrial MRO customers across North America. The company manufactures, sources, and distributes fasteners, work gloves, picture hanging hardware, rope and chain, door hardware, and cleaning products through a direct-to-store delivery model serving approximately 40,000 retail locations. Hillman also operates MinuteKey self-service key duplication kiosks deployed at retail locations throughout North America.

Product overview

Hillman is a North American leader in hardware, protective, and robotics & digital solutions serving retail, pro distribution, and industrial MRO customers. The company operates across three segments: (1) Hardware Solutions providing fasteners (Power Pro), builder's hardware, door hardware (Delaney Hardware), rope & chain (Koch Industries, Campbell Chain), and picture hanging (OOK); (2) Protective Solutions offering work gloves (Firm Grip, Gorilla Grip, Grease Monkey), jobsite storage, and cleaning products (Intex DIY); and (3) Robotics & Digital Solutions operating MinuteKey self-service kiosks for key duplication, auto keys with transponder chips, key fob copying (InstaFob), and engraving (TagWorks). Hillman sells directly to home improvement retailers, hardware stores, and pro distributors through a direct-to-store delivery model with over 1,100 field sales associates managing 40,000+ retail locations with a portfolio of 110,000+ SKUs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MinuteKey: Self-service key duplication kiosks
• TagWorks
• Power Pro
• Firm Grip
• Gorilla Grip
• Grease Monkey
• OOK
• Koch
• AWP
• Digz
• Resharp
• InstaFob
• OTR Carry
• Campbell
• Delaney

Products and services

• MinuteKey Key Duplication Kiosks Self-service robotic key duplication kiosks providing key cutting, automotive transponder key programming, key fob copying, and engraving services at retail locations across North America.
• Power Pro Fasteners

Quantifiable outcome

• Record $1.55B FY2025 net sales, up 5.4% year-over-year
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered supportive, core and minor.

• City of Forest ParksupportiveOthers · 18 June 2026Local government partnership enabling the Forest Fair Mall redevelopment project. City Manager Don Jones participated in groundbreaking ceremony.
• JobsOhio / REDI CincinnatisupportiveOthers · 18 June 2026State and regional economic development organizations supporting the Forest Fair Mall redevelopment through project facilitation and recognition.
• Butler County Land BanksupportiveOthers · 18 June 2026Partnership for redevelopment of vacant Forest Fair Mall property into productive industrial facility.
• Hillwood Investment PropertiescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 June 2026Partnership for Forest Fair Mall redevelopment in Forest Park, Ohio. Hillman will lease and fully occupy a new 715,000 sq ft multipurpose facility as sole tenant. Construction began June 2026 with targeted completion mid-2027. Project supported by local and state economic development organizations.
• Sargent and Greenleaf / OpenGate CapitalOthers · 13 April 2026Seller of Delaney Hardware to Hillman. OpenGate Capital divested as part of multi-phase exit from S&G portfolio acquired from Stanley Black & Decker in 2019.
• Apex Tool GroupOthers · 6 April 2026Seller of Campbell Chain & Fittings business to Hillman. Acquisition adds US-based manufacturing and expands industrial MRO product offerings.
• Ace HardwarecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 6 April 2026Major retail partner network; key distribution channel for hardware products; mentioned in context of Campbell Chain strengthening position with key retail partners.
• Military Makeover with MontelminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 12 December 2025Product donation partnership for veteran home renovation TV show. Hillman contributed Power Pro fasteners, Firm Grip gloves, and OOK products for veteran Stephen Linn's home renovation featured on Lifetime TV Season 44.
• FC CincinnaticoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 20255-year partnership for community impact in West End and surrounding neighborhoods. Joint initiatives include building public benches, hosting trade school workshops for students, and DIY sweepstakes promotions. Aligns shared values of community service and building.
• Forever KingscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Empowerment organization for young men of color providing internship program opportunities. Hillman has hosted several Forever Kings participants through internship program. Partnered for Trade School Discovery Day at TQL Stadium.
• CityLink CenterminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Community partner for Trade School Discovery Day hosting automotive, culinary, and medical industry breakout sessions for Cincinnati Public School students.
• The Wonderful Career CenterminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2025Training partnership providing first aid/CPR certification for employees at Hillman's Shafter, CA distribution center. Employees used training to save colleague's life during medical emergency.
• Kontoor BrandsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 August 2024Partnership to launch work gloves under Wrangler brand, expected rollout in 2025. Expands protective solutions brand portfolio.
• Home DepotcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPrimary retail partner; direct-to-store delivery with dedicated field service team; key channel for hardware solutions products.

Scale indicators23 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Fastenal Company: Fastenal is a direct peer — both companies distribute fasteners, tools, and MRO supplies to industrial and retail customers with deep field-sales coverage. Fastenal's vending and onsite store model parallels Hillman's direct-to-store delivery and MinuteKey kiosk model as embedded customer-relationship businesses.
• W.W. Grainger: Grainger is a direct peer in industrial MRO distribution, serving similar maintenance, repair, and operations customers with comparable product breadth. Grainger's KeepStock and vending offerings overlap with Hillman's direct-to-store delivery model targeting industrial end-users and pro contractors.
• MSC Industrial Direct: MSC Industrial is a direct peer in metalworking and MRO supplies distribution, serving industrial customers with catalog and field-sales channels analogous to Hillman's pro and industrial segments. Hillman's Campbell Chain and Koch acquisitions directly expand into MSC's product and customer footprint.
• Lawson Products: Lawson Products is a direct peer in fasteners, hardware, and MRO distribution with a field-sales-driven model very similar to Hillman's 1,200+ associate direct-to-store service. Both companies target maintenance and repair customers across industrial and commercial end markets.
• Apex Tool Group: Apex Tool Group is a direct peer in professional hand tools and chain products, and was the seller of Campbell Chain & Fittings to Hillman in April 2026. Both companies serve pro contractors, industrial MRO, and retail channels with overlapping fastening and tool offerings.
• HD Supply (Home Depot subsidiary): HD Supply is a direct peer in MRO and infrastructure products distribution serving maintenance, repair, and operations customers — and is owned by Home Depot, Hillman's largest retail partner. Operates an overlapping product and customer base in industrial MRO.

Broad incumbents

• Stanley Black & Decker: Stanley Black & Decker is a broad incumbent in hardware and tools, owning Crown Bolt (a direct fastener competitor to Hillman's Power Pro) and historically owning Sargent & Greenleaf — the parent that recently divested Delaney Hardware to Hillman. Comparable across fastening, hardware, and tools product categories.
• Bunzl plc: Bunzl is a broad incumbent in distribution and supply chain services, providing outsourced distribution of consumables, packaging, and category products to retailers and food service — a comparable outsourced-distribution model with overlapping end markets in retail and janitorial/cleaning supplies (Intex DIY adjacency).
• Genuine Parts Company: Genuine Parts Company (NAPA) is a broad incumbent in automotive and industrial parts distribution with comparable field-sales and retail-supply models. Its S.P. Richards and EIS segments distribute hardware-adjacent categories (janitorial, foodservice) that overlap with Hillman's protective solutions and cleaning products.
• Snap-on Incorporated: Snap-on is a broad incumbent in professional tools, equipment, and diagnostics sold through franchise and direct channels — analogous to Hillman's pro distribution model through Delaney Hardware. Both companies serve professional mechanics, contractors, and industrial customers with high-margin proprietary tool brands.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/thehillmangroup
• Facebookfacebook.com/TheHillmanGroup
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-hillman-group
• Instagraminstagram.com/thehillmangroup
• Xx.com/thehillmangroup

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors3 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A7 records

Investments5 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hillman