What Franklin Empire does

Franklin Empire Inc. is a privately held Canadian electrical distributor headquartered in Montreal, Quebec, operating as the largest Canadian-owned independent electrical distributor. The company runs 23 branch locations spanning Windsor, Ontario to Sept-Îles, Quebec, supported by ~600 employees and 5 in-house assembly / repair shops. Its distribution scope covers Ontario and Quebec exclusively, with a $50M inventory base and 30,000+ SKUs available for same/next-day fulfillment.

The company's product and service portfolio spans broad-line electrical distribution across categories including distribution equipment (breakers, fuses, transformers, UPS), wiring devices, lighting, conduit and fittings, wire and cable management, tools, heating and ventilation, motors, safety, data communications, and renewable energy (EV charging, solar, generators). It also carries specialized industrial automation lines — notably Siemens PLCs, drives, and process instrumentation — and provides value-added services: custom control panel assembly (electric, hydraulic, pneumatic, electronic), industrial machinery repair, lighting design, energy management, inventory management, employee training and certifications, and Industry 4.0 systems implementation. Tier-1 manufacturer partnerships (Siemens, ABB, Leviton, Signify, Stelpro, Milwaukee) anchor the catalog.

Commercially, Franklin Empire serves industrial plants, commercial buildings, and residential projects across new construction, renovation, and maintenance cycles through OEM and MRO supply. It operates an enterprise field-sales motion supported by inside sales (1-800-361-5044) and a trade-account e-commerce platform with quote-based pricing, plus a separate decorative lighting showroom portal. Revenue mechanics are hardware-driven distribution with a services overlay; the company is privately held and does not disclose revenue, funding, or ownership data. The most recent strategic move was the 2026 acquisition of Earl O'Neil Electric Supply Limited to consolidate the Québec–Ontario corridor.

Name

Franklin Empire

Legal name

Franklin Empire Inc.

Website

https://franklinempire.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Franklin Empire Inc. is Canada's largest Canadian-owned independent electrical distributor, operating 23 branches across Ontario and Quebec with ~600 employees, distributing electrical, lighting, automation, and renewable energy products — plus value-added services — to industrial, commercial, and construction customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Electrical Distribution

NAICS

Electrical Equipment Manufacturing (33531), Switchgear and Switchboard Apparatus Manufacturing (335313), Instruments and Related Products Manufacturing for Measuring, Displaying, and Controlling Industrial Process Variables (334513), Motor and Generator Manufacturing (335312)

SIC

Electrical Industrial Apparatus (3620), Wholesale-Industrial Machinery & Equipment (5084), Miscellaneous Electrical Machinery, Equipment & Supplies (3690), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823)

akta.pro primary industry

Industrial Control Cabinets & Power Distribution (Panels, Switchgear for Automation) (IMAHAHAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Industrial Control Panels & Enclosures (Panel Building, MCCs, Integration) (IMAGABAJ), Industrial I/O, Signal Conditioning & Remote Terminal Units (RTUs) (IMAGABAD)

Keywords

• Electrical distribution
• Industrial automation
• Power distribution equipment
• Lighting solutions
• Process instrumentation

Headquarters

HQ city

Montréal

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Electrical Component Distribution: Sale of electrical components including circuit breakers, wiring devices, lighting, automation products, tools, and related equipment through 23 branch locations and e-commerce platform
2. Professional Services: Services including inventory management, energy management consulting, employee training and certifications, repair shops for industrial machinery, and custom control panel assembly

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Franklin Empire Inc. distributes electrical components and industrial automation products — including circuit breakers, lighting, wiring devices, enclosures, conduit, wire and cable, motors, drives, PLCs, and process instrumentation — through 23 branch locations across Eastern Canada and an e-commerce platform. The company also provides value-added services such as inventory management, energy management consulting, employee training, control panel assembly, and industrial machinery repair through five assembly/repair shops.

Product overview

Franklin Empire Inc. is Canada's largest Canadian-owned independent electrical distributor offering a comprehensive portfolio of electrical products and services. The company operates across 23 branches from Windsor, Ontario to Sept-Îles, Quebec, with over 50 million in inventory and 600 employees. Their product portfolio spans multiple categories including Renewable Energy (EV charging, solar power, generators), Distribution Equipment (circuit breakers, fuses, transformers, UPS), Wiring Devices, Heating & Ventilation, Lighting, Automation/Control and Drives (Siemens PLCs, industrial computers, drives), DataComm, Tools, Wire & Cable Management, Motors, Safety & Security, and Process Instrumentation. The company provides associated services including inventory management, energy management, Industry 4.0 implementation, employee training, and industrial repair services through five assembly/repair shops. Franklin Empire serves new construction, renovation, and maintenance for industrial plants, residences, and commercial buildings with OEM and MRO solutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Renewable Energy Solutions Comprehensive renewable energy solutions including electric vehicle charging stations, solar power systems with panels and battery storage, and generators, for sustainable energy needs across residential, commercial, and industrial customers.
• Distribution Equipment Power distribution equipment including fuses, circuit breakers (molded case, miniature, motor protection, ground-fault, residual current, arc-fault), safety switches, transformers, UPS and power conditioning, panelboards, load centers, metering equipment, and power distribution blocks.
• Wiring Devices Electrical wiring devices including wallplates, straight blade devices, switches (toggle, rotary, decorative, RF, paddle), locking devices, pin and sleeve devices, combination devices, GFCI devices, and extension cords.
• Lighting Complete lighting solutions including lamps and lightbulbs (fluorescent, LED, incandescent, HID, halogen), lighting controls and dimmers, ballasts and drivers, emergency lighting and exit signs, recessed lighting, occupancy sensors, track lighting, and indoor and outdoor lighting fixtures.
• Automation, Control and Drives Industrial automation products including PLC modules and components, industrial computers, operator interfaces, drives (servo, inverter, AC variable frequency), contactors, motor starters, sensors, safety control devices, barcode scanners, and power supplies.
• Process Instrumentation (Siemens) Siemens-branded process instrumentation solutions including pressure measurement, flow measurement, level measurement, temperature measurement, positioners, weight measurement, and process controlling and protection.
• Conduit & Conduit Fittings Conduit and fittings including conduit bodies, flexible conduit, liquidtight fittings, explosionproof fittings, and various types of metallic and non-metallic conduit.
• Boxes, Fittings & Enclosures Electrical enclosures, cabinets, racks, FS and FD boxes, weatherproof boxes, device boxes, fittings, connectors, and electrical boxes and covers for various installation requirements.
• Wire & Cable Management Wire and cable management products including wiring connectors, terminal blocks, cable trays, raceways, wireways, ducting, cable ties, shrink tubing, grounding and bonding products, and wire protection solutions.
• Motors Electric motors including AC motors and servo motors with accessories for industrial applications.
• Heating & Ventilation Heating solutions including electric baseboard heaters, unit heaters, fan coil heaters, fan convectors, heat cables for floor warming and pipe tracing, thermostats, and HVAC equipment.
• DataComm - Audio & Video Data communication and audio/video equipment including audio/video jacks and wallplates, network switches, wireless access points, patch panels, coaxial connectors, fiber optic termination equipment, and RFID modules.
• Tools, Testing & Measuring Professional tools including cutting tools, metalworking, hand tools, power tools, label printers, testing and measuring equipment, cable fishing and pulling tools, wire tools, and material handling equipment.
• Safety & Security Safety products including workwear clothing, gloves, lockout/tagout equipment, eye protection, fall protection, fire alarm equipment, signaling devices, and audible/visual signals.
• Liquidation Discounted and clearance electrical products available at reduced prices.
• Assembly/Repair Services Five assembly and repair shops providing services for industrial machinery, control panel assembly (electric, hydraulic, pneumatic, electronic), and motor repair.
• Energy Management & Consulting Energy management consulting services offered alongside product distribution to help industrial and commercial customers optimize electrical energy use.
• Lighting Design Services Professional lighting design services supporting customers with layout, fixtures, controls, and decorative selections, complemented by a dedicated decorative lighting showroom portal.
• Inventory Management & Training Inventory management programs and employee training/certifications to support industrial and commercial customers in maintaining electrical supply continuity and workforce capability.

Quantifiable outcome

• $50M in inventory
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Earl O'Neil Electric Supply LimitedcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 March 2026Franklin Empire Inc. acquired Earl O'Neil Electric Supply Limited, an Ontario-based electrical supplier, to strengthen its market position in Québec and Ontario. This acquisition supports Franklin Empire's growth strategy as Canada's largest independent electrical distributor.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Rexel Canada (including Nedco and Westburne): One of the largest global electrical distributors with significant Canadian operations. Directly competes with Franklin Empire across industrial, commercial, and residential electrical distribution in Quebec and Ontario, with overlapping automation and lighting portfolios.
• Sonepar Canada: World's largest independent electrical distributor with full Canadian presence through banners including Sonepar Canada and Gescan. Closest head-to-head competitor to Franklin Empire in Ontario and Quebec, serving the same contractors and industrial customers.
• Graybar Canada: North American electrical, communications, and data networking products distributor with Canadian branches. Competes directly in industrial, commercial, and construction segments across Ontario/Quebec with comparable product breadth.
• Gerrie Electric Wholesale: Independent Canadian electrical distributor headquartered in Hamilton, Ontario. Direct competitor with strong Ontario presence, automation expertise, and similar industrial OEM/MRO customer focus.
• Guillevin International: Major Canadian independent electrical distributor with branches across Quebec, Ontario, and Western Canada. Competes directly with Franklin Empire in industrial automation, lighting, and residential/contractor supply.
• Heilind Electronics: Large North American specialty distributor of interconnect, electromechanical, and sensor products. Comparable distribution model targeting industrial OEMs and MRO, with significant overlap in the automation and control component categories.

Broad incumbents

• WESCO International / EECOL Electric: Global Fortune 500 distributor of electrical, communications, and utility products with substantial Canadian footprint acquired via EECOL. Competes broadly across Franklin Empire's industrial and construction customer base with a wider portfolio including utility and broadband.

Regional players

• Border States Electric: Large U.S. employee-owned electrical distributor serving industrial, commercial, and construction markets. Comparable business model with branch-based distribution and automation expertise, primarily operating in the U.S. but benchmarkable for size and operational profile.

Emerging players

• RS Components / RS Pro: Global catalog and e-commerce distributor serving industrial and electronics customers with strong Canadian presence. Represents the digital/online competitive threat to traditional branch-based distributors like Franklin Empire.
• Newegg Business: E-commerce platform targeting SMB and contractor electrical and industrial supply purchases. Adjacent digital-native competitor that overlaps in product categories and mid-market customers served by Franklin Empire's e-commerce channel.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/franklinempire
• Facebookfacebook.com/Franklin-Empire
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/franklin-empire-inc.

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Franklin Empire