Triple S

What Triple S does

Triple S, originally incorporated as Standardized Sanitation Systems in 1960, is a private member-owned cooperative that connects 120+ independent janitorial and sanitation distributors across the United States with 70+ supplier partners. The organization operates as a buying group, providing collective purchasing power, exclusive GPO and government contract access (Vizient, Premier, NSA, Capstone, PCA), training programs, and shared marketing resources that enable independent distributors to compete against national jan/san chains. Its end customers span healthcare (the primary segment), education, hospitality, industrial and manufacturing, and commercial properties, with healthcare-grade disinfection, hand hygiene, and floor care as core solution categories.

The company's core offering is the SSS proprietary brand, comprising 7,000+ SKUs of cleaning chemicals, floor care products, restroom solutions, equipment, and sustainable items under the EarthCare PCR sub-brand, all distributed exclusively through the member network and two Regional Distribution Centers (the first opened in Cranbury, NJ in 2000). Logistics infrastructure supports same-day shipping and consolidation of products from 35+ suppliers into single deliveries. Recent product additions include Gausium autonomous floor cleaning robots, signaling movement up the value chain into equipment and automation.

Triple S earns revenue through three streams: recurring member dues and buying-group fees from independent distributors, supplier partnership programs where suppliers pay for access to the nationwide network, and transaction-based product sales through the Regional Distribution Centers. The cooperative is governed by a board of member-company representatives and is led by CEO Kevin Chow and President Craig Gilroy, with headquarters relocated from Billerica, MA to Nashua, NH in 2022 to support a hybrid work model. The organization celebrated its 65th anniversary in 2025.

Name

Triple S

Legal name

Triple S

Website

https://triple-s.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1960

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Triple S is a 65-year-old member-owned cooperative that connects 120+ independent janitorial and sanitation distributors with 70+ supplier partners, distributing 7,000+ SSS-branded SKUs through two Regional Distribution Centers and exclusive GPO contracts to healthcare, education, hospitality, industrial, and commercial end customers across the U.S.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Billerica

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Member Dues and Buying Group Fees: Triple S operates as a cooperative/buying group where independent distributors pay membership fees to access collective purchasing power, supplier networks, GPO partnerships, and brand resources.
2. Supplier Partnership Programs: Suppliers pay to partner with Triple S to gain access to the nationwide network of 120+ independent distributors, benefiting from expanded reach and marketing programs.
3. Regional Distribution Center Sales: Triple S operates two Regional Distribution Centers that stock and ship products to members, generating revenue through product distribution and logistics.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Triple S is a member-owned buying group and national distribution network for the janitorial and sanitation industry, connecting 120+ independent distributor Members with 70+ Supplier Partners. The cooperative provides collective purchasing power, two Regional Distribution Centers with consolidated shipping, 7,000+ proprietary SSS-branded SKUs, and exclusive access to GPO and government contracts (Vizient, Premier, PCA) to help independent distributors compete against national chains.

Product overview

Triple S is a nationwide distribution network and member-based buying group for the janitorial and sanitation industry, offering over 7,000 proprietary SSS-branded SKUs through a network of over 120 independent distributors and two Regional Distribution Centers. The product portfolio includes floor care products (mops, floor machines, burnishers, floor finishes), restroom products (urinal screens, air care, touch-free equipment), cleaning chemicals (disinfectants, cleaners, laundry products), equipment (vacuums, air movers, autonomous cleaning robots), and sustainable products under the EarthCare sub-brand made from recycled materials. Products are sold through the Triple S e-commerce store (store.triple-s.com) and exclusively through the Member distributor network.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SSS Brand Janitorial and Sanitation Product Line Over 7,000 SKUs of proprietary branded cleaning and sanitation products exclusively available through Triple S Member distributors, including floor care products, chemicals, paper goods, equipment, and supplies. Sold through the Triple S e-commerce store and via Member distributors.
• OxiGenesis Hyper-Concentrate Multi-purpose hyper-concentrate cleaner, deodorizer, sanitizer, virucide, and disinfectant covering 99% of facility cleaning and disinfection needs with four dilution options.
• SSS EarthCare PCR Products Sustainable cleaning products manufactured in the USA using proprietary compounds derived from up to 100% post-consumer recycled materials including scrap tires and recycled plastics.
• SSS Floor Finishes (Trifecta Line) Enhanced floor finishes providing superior gloss, exceptional durability, and eco-conscious packaging.
• Gausium Autonomous Floor Cleaning Robots Industry-leading autonomous floor cleaning robots distributed through Triple S Regional Distribution Centers.
• Member Buying Group Services Cooperative membership service for independent janitorial and sanitation distributors, providing collective purchasing power, supplier network access, GPO and government contract access, training programs, digital marketing support, and the proprietary SSS brand portfolio.
• Supplier Partnership Program

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• VizientcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGroup Purchasing Organization partnership providing Triple S members with access to high-value healthcare markets and competitive pricing programs through Vizient's extensive hospital and healthcare network contracts.
• PremiercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGroup Purchasing Organization partnership offering Triple S members access to Premier's healthcare coalition purchasing programs and national contracts.
• PCA (Purchasing Cooperative of America)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment purchasing cooperative partnership covering all 50 states. Triple S was awarded the PCA-OD-414-24 Custodial Supplies, Equipment and Related Items contract, enabling members to serve public sector customers.
• City of HopeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCancer research and treatment organization partnership focused on fundraising and community support. Triple S hosts an annual charitable golf event at the Clean Team Exhibit and Conference dedicated to raising funds for City of Hope.
• National Service Alliance (NSA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGPO partnership serving Building Service Contractors across the United States. This partnership aligns Triple S's network of over 120 members with NSA's extensive BSC membership, creating opportunities for collaboration between distributors, manufacturers, and contractors.
• ISSAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe cleaning industry association partnership providing industry leadership, standards development (CIMS), and networking opportunities for Triple S and its members.
• Capstone Health AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGroup purchasing organization partnership providing additional access to healthcare purchasing contracts and programs for Triple S members.
• COSTARSminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPennsylvania state purchasing cooperative partnership providing access to government purchasing contracts in Pennsylvania.
• All Things ContractedcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMarketing entity responsible for servicing the PCA-OD-414-24 custodial supplies contract. Partnership enables Triple S members to serve PCA cooperative members with cleaning, safety, and facility products.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Veritiv Corporation: Veritiv is a large publicly traded broad-line distribution company offering print, packaging, facility, and janitorial/sanitation solutions. It overlaps with Triple S in jan/san distribution but operates a much wider portfolio at much larger scale, serving many of the same healthcare and education end customers.
• Bunzl plc: Bunzl is a global distribution and outsourcing group whose North American operations include janitorial/sanitation, foodservice, and grocery product lines. It is a relevant incumbent benchmark because it acquires and consolidates regional distributors similar to Triple S members and competes for similar end customers.

Direct peers

• BradyPLUS: BradyPLUS was formed by merging Brady Industries, Spruce Industries, and WAXIE Sanitary Supply under a single PE-backed platform. It is a direct competitor to Triple S's member distributors in janitorial/sanitation supply, particularly across healthcare, education, and government end markets.
• Lagasse Brothers & Sons: Lagasse is a long-standing janitorial/sanitation and foodservice products distributor and the previous employer of Triple S's CEO. It is a direct competitor to Triple S's member distributors in commercial janitorial supply across multiple U.S. regions.
• North American Corporation: North American Corporation is a regional janitorial/sanitation and foodservice distributor serving the Midwest and South. It is directly comparable in product mix and customer verticals (healthcare, education, hospitality) to Triple S's member distributors.
• WAXIE Sanitary Supply: WAXIE is a long-standing direct janitorial/sanitation distributor on the West Coast (now part of BradyPLUS), with a comparable product breadth and proprietary SSS-equivalent private-label strategy. It competes directly with Triple S member distributors for the same end customers in education, healthcare, and commercial.
• Imperial Dade: Imperial Dade is one of the largest direct janitorial, sanitation, and foodservice distribution companies in North America, acquired and grown under Bain Capital. It competes head-to-head with Triple S member distributors for end-customer contracts, particularly in healthcare and education.
• HP Products: HP Products is an Indiana-based janitorial/sanitation and foodservice equipment distributor serving the Midwest. It is a comparable mid-sized regional distributor competing with Triple S members for commercial, education, and healthcare accounts.
• Affiliated Distributors: AD is a major North American buying group/cooperative that contracts with independent distributors across multiple categories including jan/san, foodservice, and industrial. It is the most direct structural analog to Triple S, operating on the same member-owned, supplier-partnership model with GPO-like contract access.

Emerging players

• Distribution America (DA): Distribution America is a buying group for independent distributors, similar in cooperative structure to Triple S but with broader product coverage including office products. It represents a potential alternative affiliation for independent distributors evaluating or leaving Triple S.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

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Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

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 Triple S