The Claflin Company

Name

The Claflin Company

Legal name

The Claflin Company

Website

https://claflin.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1817

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Medical Supply Distribution

NAICS

Packing and Crating (488991)

SIC

Wholesale-Medical, Dental & Hospital Equipment & Supplies (5047)

akta.pro primary industry

Pharmaceutical & Medical Device Packaging (GMP, Tamper-Evident, Cold-Chain Packs) (TLAIAGAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Diagnostic & Laboratory Packaging (Specimen Containers, Transport Tubes) (IMALAIAF), Sterile & Aseptic Medical Packaging (Pouches, Wraps, Sterile Barriers) (IMALAIAB)

Keywords

• Medical supply distribution
• Third-party logistics services
• Healthcare supply chain
• Medical product distribution
• Logistics management services

Headquarters

HQ city

Warwick

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Medical Product Distribution: Full-line distribution of medical and surgical products sourced from over 500 regional, national and international suppliers. Revenue generated through product markup and distribution fees.
2. Third-Party Logistics (3PL) Services: Comprehensive logistics services including storage, order fulfillment, pick & pack, cross-docking, freight, and courier services. Revenue generated through service fees.
3. IT Services: Technology services including cybersecurity, networking, integration, training, handheld inventory systems, data analytics, and shared CIO/virtual fractional services
4. Project Management & Consulting: Supply chain consulting, physical inventory audits, recall process management, storeroom redesign, OR inventory management, and training services

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Claflin Company is a full-line wholesale distributor of medical and surgical products sourced from over 500 regional, national and international suppliers, serving hospitals and healthcare facilities. It also operates as a third-party logistics (3PL) provider offering storage, fulfillment, freight, IT, and project management services under its Claflin ALM brand. The company pioneered Just-in-Time inventory management in healthcare and was the first medical distributor to achieve ISO 9000/9002 certification in 1998.

Product overview

The Claflin Company operates as a full-line medical and surgical product distributor and third-party logistics provider. The company's offerings span two main divisions: Claflin (medical distribution) established in 1817, and ALM (Advanced Logistics Management) formed in 2014. The core product portfolio includes Third-Party Logistics (3PL) and 3PL+ (enhanced 3PL with technology integration), Emergency Supply Management, Distribution & Products, Secondary Distribution for Healthcare, IT Services & Solutions (encompassing Cybersecurity, Data Management, Handheld Inventory Systems, and Data Analytics), and Project Management Services (including Physical Inventory Audits). Claflin Freight provides regional transportation. The company distributes over 500 regional, national and international suppliers' medical and surgical products through a comprehensive catalog spanning Apparel/PPE, Diagnostics, IV Supplies, Laboratory, OR/Surgical, Orthopedics, Respiratory, Skin Care, Sterilization, Urology, and Wound Care categories.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Third-Party Logistics (3PL)

Quantifiable outcome

• Exponential growth in sales and customer base through ACO Sales program in first four years

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability1 record

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• HIDA (Health Industry Distributors Association)coreOthersClaflin is the oldest member firm of HIDA and works closely with the association on industry advocacy, tariff mitigation efforts through USTR, and maintaining industry standards. The company participates in HIDA comment letters to government agencies.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• McKesson Corporation: Largest U.S. medical/surgical distributor and pharmaceutical wholesaler. Directly comparable to Claflin's distribution business but at vastly greater scale with national IDN contracts, GPO leverage, and broader product portfolio across pharma and medical.
• Cardinal Health: Fortune 500 medical product distributor serving hospitals, ambulatory centers, and retail pharmacies. Comparable distribution and 3PL capabilities to Claflin but with national scale, owned GPO relationships, and extensive private-label product offerings.
• Medline Industries: Privately held manufacturer and distributor of medical and surgical supplies. Competes directly with Claflin in hospital medical/surgical distribution and increasingly in 3PL/logistics services, with national direct-sales coverage.
• Owens & Minor: Public medical/surgical distribution and supply chain services company with Patient Direct home healthcare. Comparable to Claflin's distribution and 3PL services, with similar focus on hospital customers but national/international footprint and public-market scale.
• Henry Schein: Large healthcare distribution company serving dental, medical, and animal health markets. Comparable to Claflin's distribution and practice-management services, particularly for dental and ambulatory customers, with public-company scale.
• Bunzl Healthcare: International distribution and outsourcing group with a healthcare division providing medical/surgical supplies and 3PL services. Comparable to Claflin in distribution, kitting, and supply chain services but at global scale across multiple verticals.

Direct peers

• Concordance Healthcare Solutions: Privately held regional medical/surgical distributor formed from the merger of Kreisers, MMS, and Seneca. Most directly comparable to Claflin as a mid-market regional medical distributor serving hospitals and surgical centers with distribution and supply chain services.
• NDC (National Distribution & Contracting): Privately held medical/surgical distributor serving independent distributors and healthcare providers. Closely comparable to Claflin's secondary distribution and wholesale model, with similar mid-market positioning and GPO-style services.
• DMS Pharmaceutical Group: Privately held pharmaceutical and medical distributor providing 3PL, repackaging, and specialty distribution services. Comparable to Claflin ALM's 3PL and emergency supply management offerings with similar mid-market positioning and regulated product focus.

Regional players

• Mercy Supply Collaborative: Mid-Atlantic regional medical distributor and GPO serving member health systems. Comparable to Claflin's secondary distribution and contract pricing services, with a similar mid-market regional positioning but different geographic focus.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/claflinco
• Facebookfacebook.com/Claflinmarketing
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-claflin-company

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries4 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 The Claflin Company