What First Supply LLC does

First Supply LLC is a privately held Wisconsin-based wholesale distributor founded in 1897, operating across the Midwest with a primary focus on HVAC, plumbing, waterworks, and industrial supplies. The company serves professional HVAC contractors through a network of branch locations, generating revenue through B2B wholesale transactions on heating, ventilation, and cooling equipment, parts, and supplies. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed, consistent with a traditional contractor-distributor relationship model.

The company's operational backbone is a newly opened 310,000-square-foot distribution center in West Salem, Wisconsin (May 2025), equipped with warehouse management, transportation management, dimensioning, and warehouse automation systems designed to improve logistics efficiency and support long-term growth. It is led by President & CEO Kathryn Poehling Seymour and operates with 501-1,000 employees.

First Supply pursues growth through regional roll-up acquisitions of established local wholesalers. Its January 2026 acquisition of Able Distributors added four Chicagoland branch locations (Chicago, South Chicago, Northfield, McHenry) and 48 team members, extending its footprint into the Chicago market while preserving the acquired brand's local team and customer relationships. The company is independently owned, with no disclosed institutional investors, parent company, or public listing.

Name

First Supply LLC

Legal name

First Supply LLC

Website

https://firstsupply.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1897

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

First Supply LLC is a Wisconsin-based wholesale distributor founded in 1897, supplying HVAC, plumbing, waterworks, and industrial products to professional contractors across the Midwest through branch locations and an automated West Salem distribution center.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

HVAC Wholesale Distribution

NAICS

Warm Air Heating and Air-Conditioning Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers (42373), Hardware, and Plumbing and Heating Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers (4237)

SIC

Wholesale-Hardware & Plumbing & Heating Equipment & Supplies (5070), Wholesale-Professional & Commercial Equipment & Supplies (5040)

akta.pro primary industry

HVAC, Water Heaters & Indoor Air Quality Distribution (CRAOAFAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Retail Distribution Centers (Store Replenishment DCs) (TLALAEAA)

Keywords

• HVAC wholesale distribution
• Plumbing supplies wholesale
• Waterworks products distribution
• Industrial supplies wholesale
• HVAC contractor supplies

Headquarters

HQ city

Madison

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. HVAC Products Wholesale Distribution: First Supply operates as a wholesale distributor of HVAC (heating, ventilation, and cooling) products, serving contractors through branch locations. Revenue is generated through the sale of HVAC equipment, parts, and supplies to professional contractors in the Midwest region.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Core offering

First Supply LLC is a Wisconsin-based wholesale distributor of HVAC equipment, parts, and supplies, alongside plumbing, waterworks, and industrial supplies, serving professional trade contractors across the U.S. Midwest. The company operates a network of physical branch locations and a central distribution center, providing contractors with access to multi-category inventory, technical product support, and delivery services for residential and commercial projects.

Product overview

First Supply LLC is a Wisconsin-based HVAC wholesale distributor serving contractors across the Midwest. The company operates a network of branch locations and distribution centers, offering an extensive inventory of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning products. Its recent acquisition of Able Distributors expanded its geographic footprint into the Chicagoland region, adding four branch locations and 48 team members. The company recently opened a new 310,000-square-foot distribution center in West Salem, Wisconsin featuring advanced WMS, TMS, dimensioning, and automation technologies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• HVAC Equipment, Parts, and Supplies (Wholesale) Wholesale distribution of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning equipment, replacement parts, and related supplies sold to professional HVAC contractors for residential and commercial installation, service, and maintenance projects in the U.S. Midwest.
• Plumbing Supplies (Wholesale) Wholesale distribution of plumbing products and supplies sold to trade contractors for residential and commercial plumbing projects.
• Waterworks Products (Wholesale) Wholesale distribution of waterworks products sold to trade contractors for water, sewer, and related infrastructure projects.
• Industrial Supplies (Wholesale) Wholesale distribution of industrial supplies sold to trade and industrial buyers for maintenance, repair, and operations applications.

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Able DistributorscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 January 2026First Supply acquired Able Distributors, a Chicago-based HVAC supplier operating four branch locations across Chicagoland (Chicago, South Chicago, Northfield, and McHenry). The acquisition enables First Supply to establish a presence in the Chicago region through the purchase of an established local HVAC distributor with over four decades of service to contractors. Able Distributors will continue operating under its existing team and locations while gaining access to First Supply's deeper inventory and expanded resources.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Johnstone Supply: Johnstone Supply is a large, privately held HVAC-focused wholesale distributor operating through a co-op and branch network serving professional contractors nationwide. Highly comparable to First Supply in product mix (HVAC equipment, parts, supplies), customer base (HVAC contractors), and branch-based distribution model.
• Winsupply Inc. Winsupply is a privately held wholesale distributor group focused on HVAC, plumbing, and related trades, serving contractors through a decentralized branch network. Closely comparable to First Supply in trade verticals, contractor customer base, and growth-through-local-acquisitions playbook.
• Famous Supply: Famous Supply is a regional HVAC, plumbing, and hydronics wholesale distributor serving contractors in the Midwest/Great Lakes region. Comparable to First Supply in trade verticals, contractor customers, and Midwest geography, though slightly different state footprint.
• APR Supply Co. APR Supply is a privately held wholesale distributor of HVAC, plumbing, and hydronic products serving contractors through branches in the Northeast/Mid-Atlantic. Comparable in business model and product mix, but operates in a different regional geography.
• R.E. Michel Company: R.E. Michel is a privately held HVAC wholesale distributor serving contractors across the eastern U.S. through branch locations. Directly comparable to First Supply in HVAC product focus, contractor customer base, and branch-based distribution model.
• Heritage Distribution Holdings: Heritage Distribution is a privately held HVAC and related wholesale distributor with multiple regional brands serving contractors across the U.S. Comparable to First Supply in HVAC wholesale focus and multi-branch distribution, though broader geographically.
• Eckhart & Company: Eckhart & Company is a regional HVAC wholesale distributor serving contractors across the Midwest through branch locations. Directly comparable to First Supply in HVAC-focused product offerings, contractor customer base, and regional Midwest presence.

Broad incumbents

• Ferguson Enterprises: Ferguson is a large publicly traded distributor of plumbing, HVAC, and related infrastructure products with national branch coverage. Overlaps with First Supply's plumbing and HVAC distribution core but at vastly greater scale and across additional verticals.
• Hajoca Corporation: Hajoca is a large privately held wholesale distributor of plumbing, HVAC, and waterworks supplies serving contractors and trade customers across the U.S. Comparable to First Supply in product categories, customer type, and branch-based distribution model.
• Watsco Inc. Watsco is the largest U.S. distributor of HVAC equipment and parts, publicly traded with a national footprint. Comparable to First Supply in core HVAC wholesale distribution but operates at dramatically larger scale and with broader geographic reach.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/first_supply
• Facebookfacebook.com/firstsupplyllc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/first-supply-llc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A1 record

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about First Supply LLC