What Unarco Industries does

Unarco Industries is a U.S.-based manufacturer of metal and plastic shopping carts, automation equipment, shelving units, and racks, founded in 1937 and headquartered in Wagoner, Oklahoma. The company produces single-basket wire carts (M180, M90ZX, M90, M125, M141, M100, M95Z), hybrid plastic/wire carts (PC42), two-tier express carts (M48, M48MAX), and a remanufactured-cart service that restores worn fleets to like-new condition through a proprietary six-step end-to-end refinishing process and an eight-point quality testing regimen. Cart manufacturing relies on metal welding, powder coating (Powercoat), and stacking/nesting logistics (e.g., 560 M48 carts per 53' trailer double-stacked), with steel carts capable of being remanufactured up to 4 times, extending lifespan by up to 20 years and keeping 95% of parts out of landfills.

The company monetizes through three streams: new cart hardware sales (single-basket, hybrid, and two-tier), remanufacturing services at up to 30% cost savings versus new carts with a 1-year warranty, and accessories (basket rim clips, noise dampeners, produce trays, cupholders, personal trays, bottle trays, phone holders). Pricing is quote-based, structured around multi-year fleet contracts and total-cost-of-ownership conversations. Unarco operates a direct enterprise field sales motion targeting large retailers and grocery chains, with no consumer-facing e-commerce storefront. The firm is positioned within the Marmon Retail Solutions network of 11 retail-focused brands, backed by Marmon Holdings, a Berkshire Hathaway subsidiary, which provides capital for innovation, internal investment, and acquisition. A documented Life Cycle Assessment with New Dominion Consulting quantifies 70% lower lifecycle carbon emissions and 157-186 lbs less CO2 per remanufactured cart versus new, supporting ESG-driven procurement conversations.

Name

Unarco Industries

Legal name

Unarco Industries

Website

https://unarco.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1937

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Unarco Industries manufactures metal and plastic shopping carts, remanufactured/refurbished carts, shelving, and accessories for large retailers and grocery chains. Operating from Wagoner, Oklahoma since 1937, it is a core brand within Marmon Retail Solutions (Berkshire Hathaway/Marmon Holdings).

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Wagoner

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. New Shopping Cart Sales: Sale of new wire, plastic/hybrid, and two-tier shopping carts to retail and grocery retailers. Products include single basket carts (M180, M90ZX, M90, M100, M95Z, M141, PC42) and two-tier carts (M48, M48MAX).
2. Cart Remanufacturing Services: End-to-end repair and refinishing of existing shopping carts, producing like-new carts at up to 30% lower cost than new carts. Includes 1-year warranty. Keeps 95% of existing parts out of landfills.
3. Cart Accessories: Sale of cart accessories including basket rim clips, noise dampeners, produce trays, cupholders, personal trays, bottle trays, and phone holders.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Unarco Industries manufactures and supplies metal wire, hybrid plastic, and two-tier shopping carts for retail and grocery operations, including single-basket carts (M180, M90ZX, M90, M125, M141, M141-TL, M100, M95Z), hybrid plastic carts (PC42, PC42-TL), and two-tier carts (M48, M48MAX). The company also provides a cart remanufacturing service that restores existing fleets to like-new condition via a six-step process at up to 30% lower cost than new carts, plus a full line of shopping cart accessories including noise dampeners, produce trays, cupholders, personal trays, bottle trays, and phone holders.

Product overview

Unarco Industries is a wholesale shopping cart manufacturer offering a comprehensive portfolio of new and remanufactured retail/grocery shopping carts along with accessories. The product line includes: Single Basket Wire Shopping Carts (M180 Extra Large, M90ZX Large, M90 Large, M125 Large, M141 Medium Large, M141-TL Trayless, M100 Small, M95Z Medium); Hybrid Plastic/Wire Shopping Carts (PC42 and PC42-TL Trayless); and Two-Tier Basket Shopping Carts (M48 and M48MAX with larger lower basket). The company also provides an industry-leading cart remanufacturing service that restores worn carts to like-new condition at up to 30% lower cost than new carts, with environmental benefits including 95% recycled materials. Accessories include basket rim clips, noise dampeners, produce trays, cupholders, personal trays, bottle trays, and phone holders. All products are manufactured in the U.S. at the Wagoner, Oklahoma headquarters.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Wire Shopping Carts Full line of wire shopping carts for retail and grocery operations, including single-basket carts (M180 Extra Large at 28,721 in3 / 470L; M90ZX Large at 18,686 in3 / 306L; M90 Large at 17,502 in3 / 286L; M125 Large at 17,000 cu.in.; M141 Medium Large at 17,841 in3 / 292L; M141-TL trayless at 10,980 in3 / 180L; M100 Small at 16,800 in3 / 275L; M95Z Medium at 15,071 in3 / 246L) and two-tier basket carts (M48 at 4,247 in3 / 70L; M48MAX with larger lower basket at 5,675 in3 / 93L). Carts are functional, durable, maneuverable in store aisles, and offer stacking/nesting optimization for efficient transportation. Sold to large retailers and grocery chains for fleet operations.
• Hybrid Plastic Shopping Carts Plastic and wire hybrid shopping carts (PC42 with 16,661 in3 / 273L capacity, and PC42-TL trayless with 10,051 in3 / 165L) that offer a no-rust surface combined with metal durability. The trayless PC42-TL is designed to prevent theft of high-value items placed underneath. Sold to retailers and grocery chains requiring durable, corrosion-resistant carts.
• Cart Remanufacturing Service End-to-end remanufacturing service that restores existing shopping carts (including those not originally manufactured by Unarco) to like-new condition via a six-step process: Inspect & Tear Down, Strip to Bare Steel, Remove Rust Damage, Repair Structure, Apply New Powercoat, and Assemble Like-New Cart. The process keeps 95% of existing parts out of landfills, generates up to 30% cost savings versus new carts, includes a 1-year warranty, and steel carts can be remanufactured up to 4 times, extending lifespan by up to 5 years per cycle (up to 20 years total).
• Shopping Cart Accessories Field- and factory-mountable shopping cart accessories including basket rim clips (snap-on plastic liners in black/gray/blue for softer basket feel), gate and tray noise dampeners, retractable and fixed produce trays, cupholders/purse hook assemblies (welded and wire and plastic options), personal trays with flower holder and umbrella/cane slots, lower bottle trays, and field-mountable plastic phone holders. Sold to retailers and grocery chains to enhance shopper comfort and reduce cart noise.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 30% cost savings with remanufactured carts versus new carts
• +7 more outcomes

Segments2 records

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

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Marmon Retail SolutionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnarco Industries is a trusted brand within the Marmon Retail Solutions network. The network includes 11 retail-focused brands that collaborate to improve every aspect of the retail experience. Unarco operates as part of this portfolio.
• New Dominion ConsultingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConducted Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) analyzing the environmental impact of manufacturing operations, focusing on greenhouse gas emissions for Unarco's popular 90ZX cart.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Sambo Industrial: Korean-based manufacturer and exporter of shopping carts, logistics carts, and retail fixtures. Comparable in core product offering (wire shopping carts) and customer base (large retailers), but primarily serves Asian and export markets rather than competing directly in North America.
• R.H. Huon Pty Ltd: Australian shopping cart and retail trolley manufacturer. Comparable in core product (wire shopping carts) and target customer (large retailers and grocery chains), but serves primarily the Australian and Asia-Pacific market rather than competing directly with Unarco in North America.

Broad incumbents

• Lozier Corporation: Major U.S. manufacturer of store fixtures, shelving, and gondola systems serving large grocery, mass-market, and big-box retailers. Comparable as a wholesale supplier of in-store retail equipment to the same enterprise retail customer base, with broader product portfolio spanning fixtures beyond shopping carts.
• Cefla Group: Italian industrial group with retail equipment, finishing, and engineered solutions divisions. Comparable as a broader player in retail store equipment and shopping carts serving grocery chains, with a wider portfolio than Unarco's cart-focused offering.
• Hussmann (Panasonic): U.S. manufacturer of refrigerated and non-refrigerated display cases for grocery and food retail, owned by Panasonic. Comparable as a supplier of large-scale in-store equipment to grocery chains—the same primary customer segment Unarco serves—though Hussmann's product focus is refrigeration rather than shopping carts.

Direct peers

• Cari-All Products: Canadian manufacturer of shopping carts, Material Handling carts, and store fixtures. Directly comparable as a North American competitor producing wire shopping carts and serving grocery and retail customers with overlapping product lines and customer segments.
• Magnuson Group: U.S.-based manufacturer of shopping carts, material handling carts, and retail fixtures. Directly comparable as a smaller North American competitor offering wire and specialty carts to retail and institutional customers with overlapping product lines.
• Wanzl: German-based global leader in shopping carts, baggage carts, and retail solutions. Directly comparable as a manufacturer of wire and plastic shopping carts serving large grocery and retail chains worldwide, with similar remanufacturing/refurbishment services. Wanzl is Unarco's most direct global competitor.
• Sara Steel & Plastic Products: U.S.-based manufacturer of shopping carts and material handling carts. Directly comparable as a smaller North American competitor producing similar wire carts and serving retail/grocery customers with overlapping product portfolios.
• Advance Equipment Manufacturing: U.S.-based manufacturer of shopping carts, platform trucks, and material handling carts. Direct competitor offering similar wire cart products to retail and grocery customers in the North American market, with overlapping product categories and distribution channels.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/unarco-industries

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 Unarco Industries