Choctaw-Kaul Distribution Company

What Choctaw-Kaul Distribution Company does

Choctaw-Kaul Distribution Company (CK) is a privately held B2B industrial distributor founded in 1912 and headquartered at 3540 Vinewood Avenue in Detroit, Michigan. The company distributes a broad MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Operations) product portfolio spanning safety and PPE (gloves, eye and face protection, fall protection, respiratory, hearing, protective clothing, first aid), hand and power tools, janitorial supplies, electrical distribution equipment, pipe valves and fittings, absorbents, and workplace hydration products, with training programs offered as a service. CK sells primarily to industrial and manufacturing customers and utility-sector buyers, and is certified as a Class 4 Minority Business Enterprise (MBE), a designation that has earned it recognition as an MBE Supplier of the Year in 2022 and inclusion in enterprise supplier-diversity programs.

The company's go-to-market is a traditional direct-sales B2B distribution model with quote-based pricing, supported by a physical footprint of six US distribution centers (Detroit HQ, Plymouth Township MI, New Castle DE, Chicago, King of Prussia PA, Bloomington IL) plus international distribution nodes in Union MS, Reynosa Mexico, and Windsor Canada. Sales coverage extends across 19 states, and the company maintains an e-commerce storefront with online catalog, quick order entry, and account login to support reordering from existing accounts. Core supplier relationships include 3M (abrasives, adhesives, batteries, heat shrink, utility locators) as a principal channel partnership, with additional reseller arrangements for Gatorade and Sqwincher hydration products.

Revenue mechanics are anchored in hardware/merchandise sales through distribution contracts with enterprise customers; CK reportedly grew from a Safety & PPE provider into a full-line MRO supplier for a major utility account, and similar cross-sell patterns are described for a major automotive / industrial materials customer. Pricing is not publicly disclosed, the company does not publish revenue, and there is no indication of outside equity investment, parent company, or public listing. Customer testimonials characterize CK as the "largest and most reliable diverse supplier" within at least one major utility account, signaling deep procurement-system integration but also notable enterprise customer concentration.

Name

Choctaw-Kaul Distribution Company

Legal name

Choctaw-Kaul Distribution Company

Website

https://choctawkaul.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1912

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Choctaw-Kaul Distribution Company is a privately held, Detroit-based B2B industrial MRO distributor serving utilities, manufacturers, and automotive customers across 19 US states plus Mexico and Canada, with a portfolio focused on safety, PPE, tools, and janitorial supplies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial MRO Distribution

NAICS

Other Professional Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers (423490)

SIC

Wholesale-Professional & Commercial Equipment & Supplies (5040)

akta.pro primary industry

Janitorial & Sanitation (JanSan) Supplies Wholesale (CRAOAGAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

PPE, Safety & Infection Control Supplies Distribution (JanSan-adjacent) (CRAOAGAK), Industrial & Facility Maintenance (MRO) Cleaning Supplies Distribution (CRAOAGAJ)

Keywords

• Industrial MRO distribution
• Safety equipment supplies
• PPE distribution
• Janitorial supplies
• Industrial safety products

Headquarters

HQ city

Detroit

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. MRO Distribution: Distribution of maintenance, repair, and operations supplies including safety & PPE, hand tools, power tools, janitorial supplies, and general industrial products to commercial and industrial customers.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

Choctaw-Kaul Distribution Company is a B2B industrial distributor selling safety equipment, personal protective equipment (PPE), maintenance/repair/operations (MRO) supplies, hand and power tools, janitorial products, and industrial supplies to commercial, industrial, utility, and manufacturing customers. The company also offers workplace safety training programs and operates as a certified Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) diverse supplier.

Product overview

Choctaw-Kaul Distribution Company is a B2B industrial distributor offering a comprehensive portfolio of safety equipment, MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Operations) supplies, and tools. The company operates through multiple distribution centers across the U.S. with headquarters in Detroit, Michigan. Their product portfolio spans 20+ categories including First Aid (with specific products like bandages, antiseptics, biohazard kits, antacids), Hand Protection (gloves of various types), Eye Protection, Fall Protection, Power Tools, Janitorial Supplies, Ergonomic PPE, Protective Clothing, and Hydration Products (Gatorade and Sqwincher). The company also offers Training Programs as a service offering. They serve as a one-stop supplier for industrial safety needs, having grown from a Safety & PPE provider to supplying Hand Tools, Power Tools, Janitorial supplies, General Industrial supplies, Electrical Distribution Equipment, and Pipe Valves and Fittings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Hand Protection (Work Gloves) Work gloves spanning cut-resistant, chemical-resistant, cold weather, heat-resistant, leather, mechanic, impact-resistant, anti-vibration, disposable, electrical, general purpose, heavy/medium/light duty, winter, and specialty glove categories, including customized gloves for industrial and manufacturing customers.
• Eye Protection Safety eyewear line including goggles, anti-fog lenses, clear lenses, tinted lenses, bifocals, indoor/outdoor lenses, mirror lenses, welders' eyewear, and accessories such as cords, clips, cases, and lens cleaners for industrial and manufacturing workers.
• Face and Head Protection Hard hats, bump caps, face shields, welding gear, hoods, cooling devices, headlamps, and suspension systems for head and face safety in industrial environments.
• Fall Protection Fall arrest and safety equipment including harnesses, lanyards, lifelines, carabiners, anchorage systems, fall restrictors, safety kits, self-rescue equipment, and winches for working-at-heights applications.
• Hearing Protection Ear protection equipment including earmuffs, corded and cordless earplugs, custom earplugs, cap-mounted earmuffs, hearing bands, dispensers, replacement pods, and test plugs.
• Respiratory Protection Breathing protection equipment including dust masks, half mask and full face respirators, cartridges, filters, breathing tubes, fit test kits, hoods, valves, visors, and respirator wipes.
• Foot Protection Safety footwear including steel toe boots, chemical resistant footwear, cold weather boots, ice traction devices, insoles, overshoes, heel grounders, and safety walk mats/strips.
• Ergonomic PPE Ergonomic personal protective equipment including back supports, knee supports, wrist supports, forearm supports, elbow supports, lumbar support, finger supports, metatarsal guards, shin pads, thigh protectors, and supporting accessories like lanyards, mats, and flooring.
• Protective Clothing Safety garments including arc flash protection, ANSI vests, chemical resistant clothing, fire-resistant and flame-resistant apparel, high-visibility gear, rain suits, thermal clothing, winter wear, and NSA FR clothing.
• First Aid Supplies Medical and emergency supplies including bandages, antiseptics (e.g., Betadine), antacids, biohazard cleanup kits, burn relief, cold packs, CPR equipment, eyewash, first aid kits, gauze, masks, pain relievers, sanitizers, sunscreen, and electrolyte products for workplace first-aid stations.
• Janitorial Supplies Cleaning and maintenance products including bottles, brooms, brushes, mops, cleaners, disinfectant sprays, soap, trash liners/bags, and wipes for facility and industrial cleaning operations.
• Hand and Power Tools Hand and power tools including abrasives (3M products, bonded abrasives), adhesives, air accessories, batteries/chargers, blades, saws, drills, grinders, hammers, measuring tools, levels, knives, clamps, diamond drill bits, and portable storage solutions.
• Power Tools and Accessories Industrial power tools including breakers, combihammers, cordless hydraulic tools, cutting/grinding equipment, diamond tools, direct fastening systems, rotary hammers, sawing/sanding tools, screw fastening equipment, measuring systems, and tool services including asset management.
• Electrical Supplies Electrical distribution equipment including compression lugs and heat shrink tubing for electrical installations and maintenance.
• Absorbents Industrial absorbents for spill control including drums, pads, rolls, socks, pillows, and solidifiers for managing liquids and hazardous materials.
• Fire Prevention Fire suppression and prevention products including foam systems and dispensers.
• Lock Out / Tag Out Safety lockout/tagout equipment including cable lockouts, lockout hasps, stations, plug lockouts, switch lockouts, and valve lockouts for machine safety.
• Signs, Tape, and Tags Safety signage, warning tape, and identification tags including Accuform products for facility marking and hazard communication.
• Security and Crowd Control Security and crowd control equipment including barriers and crowd control devices.
• Hydration Drinks (Gatorade and Sqwincher) Beverages for workplace hydration including Gatorade (bottles, cans, coolers, cups, liquid concentrate, powder mix, Propel, racks, ready-to-drink) and Sqwincher (liquid concentrate, powder mix, ready-to-drink, single serve, Zero Sugar).
• Safety Training Programs Workplace safety training and certification programs for safety programs, equipment operation, and compliance, including worker training and team-member support.

Named customers2 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

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• GatorademinorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorReseller of Gatorade hydration drinks and products including bottles, cans, coolers, powder mix, and ready-to-drink options
• SqwincherminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorReseller of Sqwincher hydration drinks including liquid concentrate, powder mix, ready-to-drink, single serve, and zero sugar varieties
• 3McoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorReseller of 3M products including abrasives, adhesive, bags/totes, batteries & chargers, heat shrink, and utility locators

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Grainger (W.W. Grainger): Largest US industrial MRO distributor with national distribution, broad-line catalog (safety, tools, janitorial, electrical), proprietary digital procurement platform, and KeepStock vending. Directly competes with CK across virtually every product category CK distributes, but at vastly greater scale and with deeper technology investment.
• Fastenal: Industrial supplier with one of the largest US networks of onsite locations and vending machines, distributing fasteners, safety, tools, and janitorial supplies. Comparable product overlap to CK with a much more decentralized, technology-enabled go-to-market.
• McMaster-Carr: Iconic industrial supplies catalog and e-commerce distributor with extremely broad SKU coverage across safety, tools, janitorial-adjacent, and facilities products. Competes with CK for industrial and facilities procurement spend, differentiated by industry-leading digital UX.
• Würth Industry North America: Global MRO and fastener distributor with a US presence serving industrial customers through direct sales, vendor-managed inventory, and CPS (C-Parts Solution) programs. Overlaps with CK in industrial MRO, safety, and supply-chain integration services.

Direct peers

• MSC Industrial Direct: National metalworking and MRO distributor serving industrial customers with cutting tools, PPE, janitorial, and shop supplies. Closest direct competitor to CK in full-line MRO distribution to industrial and manufacturing customers.
• Lawson Products: Mid-market direct-sales distributor of MRO supplies including safety, janitorial, fasteners, and electrical products to industrial customers. Closest comparable in size, customer profile, and product breadth to Choctaw-Kaul.
• Kaman Industrial Technologies: Distributor of industrial MRO products including bearings, power transmission, electrical, fluid power, and safety supplies. Direct competitor serving manufacturing and industrial accounts across multiple US regions.
• Safety Services Inc. Mid-market safety and industrial supplies distributor offering PPE, janitorial, tools, and facility products. Closely comparable scale and product mix to Choctaw-Kaul, with a similar regional-industrial customer profile.

Regional players

• Hisco (Hisco / ERI Safety): Industrial and safety distributor with strong regional density in the Southern US, distributing PPE, MRO, and janitorial supplies. Comparable business model to CK with a different geographic footprint.

Others

• Affiliated Distributors (AD): Marketing-buying group for independent distributors across industrial, safety, janitorial, and building supplies. Many mid-market MRO distributors like Choctaw-Kaul are members of AD, making it a structural peer / ecosystem participant rather than a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/media/set/?set=a.494522432676433&type=3

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 Choctaw-Kaul Distribution Company