What Essendant does

Essendant Co. is a U.S.-based wholesale distributor and third-party logistics (3PL) provider headquartered in Lincolnshire, Illinois, founded in 1922 and operating today as a portfolio company of private equity firm Sycamore Partners (taken private in January 2019 in a transaction alongside fellow Sycamore asset Staples, Inc.). The company runs two integrated business lines: Wholesale Distribution of products across Janitorial & Sanitation, Foodservice, Technology, Office Supplies, and Office Furniture categories through 1,300+ brand partnerships (including Gojo, P&G Professional, Reckitt, Kimberly Clark, Rubbermaid, Clorox, and HP), delivered to customer warehouses or drop-shipped to end customers; and Essendant Fulfillment Services, a 3PL offering that handles warehousing, picking, packing, shipping, and reverse logistics across B2B, B2C, retail drop ship, and Amazon Prime (via 9 Prime-certified warehouses). Operations are anchored by 20+ U.S. distribution centers totaling 7M+ sq ft of warehouse space, a 400+ truck dedicated fleet, proximity to 10 major U.S. ports, and, since November 2025, a Managed Delivery model built on Hub Group's 200+ final-mile facilities targeting 48-hour delivery with 95% on-time performance and 98% U.S. population coverage. The Connected Commerce platform unifies these capabilities with ecommerce services (four-tier subscriptions Basic / Professional / Enterprise / Premier), a proprietary AutoPricer for 24/7 cross-marketplace repricing, and integrations with Amazon, Walmart, Target, eBay, Shopify, and Mercado Libre (added November 2024 for Latin America).

The company monetizes through three principal streams: wholesale distribution on customer-specific transactional pricing with monthly minimums; 3PL activity-based pricing (inbound/receiving, storage, picking/packaging, shipping) under consigned inventory and a 3,000-units/month minimum; and recurring ecommerce subscription fees plus separate storefront build and marketing fees. Go-to-market combines direct enterprise field sales to retailers and brands, dedicated Sales and Category teams for wholesale accounts, and channel partnerships through independent dealers, resellers, distributors, and cooperative purchasing organizations such as PACE. The company publicly reports operational metrics of 98% two-day U.S. drop-ship coverage, 99.9% inventory accuracy, 99.5% pick accuracy, and orchestration of $5B+ GMV across its platform. Notable private brands include Boardwalk, Windsoft, and Innovera. In 2024 the company formally exited its century-old independent office products dealer channel as part of a strategic pivot toward ecommerce and logistics. However, recent reporting (August 2026) indicates material business contraction: multiple distribution centers (Irving, TX; Suwanee, GA; Montgomery County) have been closed with several hundred layoffs, and WARN notices reference plans to cease business operations entirely, signaling potential liquidation risk.

Name

Essendant

Legal name

Essendant Co.

Website

https://essendant.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1922

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Essendant is a U.S. wholesale distributor and 3PL provider (Sycamore Partners-owned) serving enterprise retailers, brands, and resellers across JanSan, Foodservice, Technology, and Office categories through 20+ distribution centers, 1,300+ brand partnerships, Amazon Prime-certified fulfillment, and the Connected Commerce omnichannel platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wholesale Distribution and Third-Party Logistics

NAICS

General Line Grocery Merchant Wholesalers (424410), Other Grocery and Related Products Merchant Wholesalers (42449)

SIC

Wholesale-Groceries & Related Products (5140), Wholesale-Groceries, General Line (5141)

akta.pro primary industry

Integrated 3PL + Broadline Foodservice Distributors (Warehousing, Pick/Pack, Last-Mile) (AFAIAAAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Janitorial & Sanitation (JanSan) Supplies Wholesale (CRAOAGAA), B2B / Wholesale Fulfillment Centers (TLALADAB), Broadline Foodservice Supplies Wholesale (AFAIALAA)

Keywords

• Wholesale distribution
• Third party logistics
• Order fulfillment services
• Janitorial and sanitation supply
• Ecommerce fulfillment

Headquarters

HQ city

Deerfield

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Wholesale Distribution: Revenue from selling products wholesale to resellers, distributors, and retailers across JanSan, Foodservice, Technology, and Office categories. Products are delivered to customer warehouses or drop shipped to their customers.
2. 3PL Fulfillment Services: Fees for warehousing, picking, packing, and shipping services. Pricing based on activities performed including inbound/receiving, storage, picking/packaging, and shipping of goods. Uses consigned inventory model where merchant maintains ownership.
3. Ecommerce Services: Tiered service offerings for marketplace management including Basic, Professional, Enterprise, and Premier plans. Revenue from listing services, pricing management, marketing, and storefront management.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Essendant is a wholesale distributor and third-party logistics (3PL) provider that supplies JanSan, foodservice, technology, office, and industrial products from over 1,300 brand partners to resellers, retailers, and institutional buyers. The company also operates omnichannel fulfillment services (Essendant Fulfillment Services) and the Connected Commerce platform, providing B2B/B2C warehousing, pick-and-pack, Amazon Prime-certified fulfillment, retail drop ship, and marketplace management across Amazon, Walmart, Target, eBay, and Mercado Libre.

Product overview

Essendant is a wholesale distributor and third-party logistics (3PL) provider that has pivoted from the declining office-supplies market toward ecommerce and logistics services. The company operates two core business lines: Wholesale Distribution (offering over 1,300 brands across Janitorial & Sanitation, Foodservice, Technology, Office Supplies, and Office Furniture categories with delivery to warehouses or drop ship fulfillment) and Essendant Fulfillment Services (providing omnichannel 3PL including B2B/B2C fulfillment, Amazon Prime Certified fulfillment, and retail drop ship). These are unified under the Connected Commerce platform, which integrates the nationwide fulfillment network with major marketplace integrations (Amazon, Shopify, Walmart, Target, Mercado Libre) and ecommerce services to enable omnichannel selling. Private brands (Boardwalk, Windsoft, InnoVera) supplement national brand offerings. Customer-facing portals (Solutions Central, Empower Central, BiggestBook.com) support order management and product catalog access. The company was founded in 1922 as United Stationers and rebranded to Essendant in 2015.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Connected Commerce: An all-in-one omnichannel commerce solution combining 3PL fulfillment, ecommerce services, and channel access for brands to scale across marketplaces, webstores, retail and wholesale.
• Essendant Fulfillment Services
• Boardwalk
• Windsoft
• Innovera

Products and services

• Connected Commerce
• Essendant Fulfillment Services
• Wholesale Distribution
• Ecommerce Services
• Boardwalk
• Windsoft
• Innovera

Quantifiable outcome

• 98% of U.S. drop ship orders delivered within 2 days
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• Hub GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 October 2025Three-year strategic logistics partnership to create a managed delivery model as part of Essendant's pivot toward ecommerce and logistics. Leverages Hub Group's network of over 200 final-mile facilities to achieve 98% U.S. population coverage within 48 hours with target 95% on-time performance rate. Program launched November 1, 2025.
• RithumcoreTechnology or Integration · 17 January 2025Partnership to offer integrated retail commerce fulfillment and marketplace integration services. Combines Rithum's commerce platform with Essendant's fulfillment network to improve operational efficiency, inventory management, order fulfillment, and final-mile delivery for brands and retailers.
• Mercado LibreflagshipTechnology or Integration · 14 November 2024Essendant expanded its marketplace operations to include Mercado Libre, Latin America's largest ecommerce marketplace serving Mexico, Central and South America. Enables brand partners to offer products across the Latin American region.
• PACE (Purchasing Association of Cooperative Entities)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 6 November 2024Agreement for distribution of office products, furniture, janitorial supplies, and foodservice supplies and equipment to PACE cooperative members.

Scale indicators19 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Genuine Parts Company: Distributor of automotive replacement parts and industrial/office products via NAPA and S.P. Richards. S.P. Richards is a direct competitor in office products distribution with overlapping dealer channel and product categories.
• WESCO International: Large-scale industrial and electrical distribution business with MRO services and global supply chain solutions. Comparable as broadline industrial/MRO distributor with value-added services, though operating in different vertical categories.
• McKesson: Large healthcare and broadline distribution business with significant distribution scale and value-added services. Comparable as a broadline distribution incumbent with similar scale and supply chain expertise.

Direct peers

• Performance Food Group: Major broadline foodservice distributor and Vistar (vending/convenience) operator with national distribution network. Comparable to Essendant's foodservice wholesale segment with similar customer mix and logistics requirements.
• Office Depot: Major office products retailer and wholesaler with global contract distribution. Direct competitor in Essendant's legacy office supplies wholesale market; both companies have faced pressure from the secular decline in office product demand.
• US Foods: One of the largest US foodservice distributors serving independent restaurants, healthcare, and hospitality with broad assortment. Directly comparable to Essendant's foodservice wholesale distribution business with overlapping customer profiles.
• HD Supply / Home Depot Pro: Leading wholesale distributor of MRO, JanSan, and facilities maintenance products serving multifamily, hospitality, healthcare, and government. Direct competitor in JanSan wholesale distribution with overlapping product categories and customer segments.
• Bunzl plc: Global broadline distributor of janitorial/sanitation, foodservice, and safety products with 3PL-like distribution services. Most directly comparable to Essendant's broadline distribution across JanSan and foodservice categories, with similar customer base and business model.
• GXO Logistics: Pure-play contract logistics and 3PL provider specializing in ecommerce, retail, and consumer goods fulfillment. Directly comparable to Essendant Fulfillment Services and Connected Commerce platform, competing for the same enterprise 3PL contracts.
• Sysco Corporation: Largest US broadline foodservice distributor serving restaurants, healthcare, and educational institutions with broad assortment of foodservice products. Comparable to Essendant's LagasseSweet foodservice wholesale division and broadline distribution model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat7 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/EssendantPoweringMore

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A9 records

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Essendant