Brainerd Chemical Co., Inc.

What Brainerd Chemical Co., Inc. does

Brainerd Chemical Company, Inc. is a privately-held, family-owned chemical manufacturer and distributor headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma, founded in 1959 and operating under Chairman and Owner Mathew A. Brainerd for over 44 years. The company distributes industrial, reagent, food, and specialty chemicals — including peracetic acid, hydrofluoric acid, sulfuric acid, nitric acid, sodium hydroxide, solvents, and glycols — to over 3,000 customers across water treatment, food safety, oil and gas, industrial manufacturing, animal health, agriculture, mining, and hygiene and janitorial end markets in the continental United States. Its core technical differentiators are exclusive regulatory authorizations: the EPA registration for formaldehyde and a DOT Special Permit for transporting concentrated (98%+) nitric acid in drums, supported by EPA, FDA, and USDA registrations for its Terrastat peracetic acid product line.

The business model is vertical-segment distribution with integrated service offerings. Brainerd runs six production and distribution facilities spanning Tulsa, Tuttle, Dunn (NC), Danville (IL), Scooba (MS), and Seaford (DE), with over 50 large-capacity blending tanks, batch sizes from 55 to 40,000 gallons, and 167,000 square feet of warehouse space. Revenue is generated through chemical manufacturing and distribution, custom and contract blending services, large-scale packaging (including private labeling and blind shipping), and an owned trucking fleet (Brainerd Transportation) that moves over 15 million pounds per month. GTM motion is direct-to-customer enterprise sales via account managers and the company fleet, with no disclosed digital self-serve channel. Pricing is quote-based on customer specifications and volumes. The company holds NACD and ACD Responsible Distributor certifications and has been recognized as a Top 100 US Chemical Distributor (64th in North America, 205th globally per ICIS Chemical Business in 2023).

Name

Brainerd Chemical Co., Inc.

Legal name

Brainerd Chemical Company, Inc.

Website

https://brainerdchemical.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1959

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Brainerd Chemical Company is a privately-held, family-owned chemical manufacturer and distributor founded in 1959, serving over 3,000 industrial, municipal, and commercial customers across the continental United States with acids, solvents, peracetic acid, custom blending, packaging, and hazmat transportation services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Chemical Manufacturing & Distribution

NAICS

Chemical and Allied Products Merchant Wholesalers (4246), Chemical Manufacturing (325), Other Chemical Product and Preparation Manufacturing (3259)

SIC

Wholesale-Chemicals & Allied Products (5160), Chemicals & Allied Products (2800), Miscellaneous Chemical Products (2890)

akta.pro primary industry

Water Treatment & Process Specialty Chemicals (IMAEABAN)

akta.pro secondary industry

Commodity Surfactants & Detergent Base Chemicals (IMAEAAAI)

Keywords

• Industrial chemicals distribution
• Chemical manufacturing services
• Custom chemical blending
• Peracetic acid antimicrobials
• Hazardous materials handling

Headquarters

HQ city

Tulsa

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Chemical Manufacturing and Distribution: Manufacturing and distributing industrial, reagent, food and specialty chemicals including acids, solvents, caustics, and custom blends to industrial customers.
2. Custom Blending Services: Custom blending and contract/toll blending services for hazardous and non-hazardous materials, including peracetic acid solutions and difficult-to-handle products.
3. Packaging Services: Large-scale packaging services for hard-to-handle acids, solvents, and industrial chemicals. Includes private labeling, blind shipping, and drop shipping capabilities.
4. Transportation Services: Company-owned trucking fleet for chemical transportation, moving over 15 million pounds per month in bulk trailer and box trailer deliveries across the United States.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Brainerd Chemical manufactures and distributes industrial, reagent, food, and specialty chemicals (including Peracetic Acid, Hydrofluoric Acid, Sulfuric Acid, Nitric Acid, Caustic Soda, solvents, glycols, and custom blends) to industrial customers across the continental United States. The company complements its chemical portfolio with integrated custom blending, contract packaging, and private-label services across four facilities, supported by a company-owned trucking fleet that transports more than 15 million pounds per month.

Product overview

Brainerd Chemical Company is a privately-held chemical manufacturer and distributor serving industrial, municipal, and commercial customers across the continental United States. The company operates a portfolio of core chemical products including Peracetic Acid (PAA) - their flagship antimicrobial product line, Hydrofluoric Acid (49% and 70%), various acids (Hydrochloric, Sulfuric, Nitric, Phosphoric, Citric, Mixed Acids), caustics (Sodium Hydroxide and blends), solvents (Toluene, Isopropyl Alcohol, Methanol, Glycols), and water treatment chemicals. Their Terrastat® branded PAA products serve the oil and gas and water treatment industries. These products are supported by integrated service offerings including chemical blending (three facilities with batch sizes from 55 to 40,000 gallons), packaging (four facilities from pails to bulk trailers with private labeling), and transportation (company-owned fleet moving 15 million+ pounds per month). The company holds exclusive EPA registration for formaldehyde and DOT approval for transporting concentrated nitric acid in drums.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Peracetic Acid (PAA) including Terrastat branded variants Brainerd's flagship antimicrobial and biocide product. Peracetic acid breaks down to water, oxygen, and vinegar. Sold under the Terrastat sub-brand (Terrastat 5-S, 15, 15-S, 15-OF, 22, 22-S, 1522-S) with EPA, FDA, and USDA registrations for food industry sanitation, oil and gas biocide applications, and water management operations.
• Hydrofluoric Acid 49% and 70% Highly corrosive industrial chemical used in quartz purification, glass etching, refrigerant manufacturing, metal processing, and other industrial applications. Brainerd has specialized training and equipment to package and transport this hazardous material safely, supplying hydrofluoric acid to industries globally.
• Citric Acid 50% Weak organic acid used as a preservative, cleaning agent, calcification removal agent, and pH reducer with applications in food, beverages, insecticides, and disinfectants.
• Formaldehyde Common precursor to more complex compounds used in automobile manufacturing, paints, explosives, pressed-wood products, glues, and adhesives. Brainerd is the exclusive holder of an EPA registration for formaldehyde, also marketed for disease control and disinfection in poultry and livestock operations.
• Glycols (Triethylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol, Ethylene Glycol) Chemicals commonly used as antifreeze and coolant in commercial and industrial applications including engine cooling and natural gas dehydration, with types including Triethylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol, and Ethylene Glycol.
• Hydrochloric Acid (HCl) 31-36% Colorless or slightly yellow liquid used in manufacturing organic compounds, pH regulation, steel pickling, leather processing, and oil well production.
• Hydrogen Peroxide 1-50% Oxidizer, bleaching agent, and antiseptic that breaks down to oxygen and water; used in oil and gas refineries, wastewater treatment, pulp and paper processing, and food processing.
• Isopropyl Alcohol Widely used disinfectant in pharmaceutics, hospitals, clean rooms, and electronics manufacturing, and used as a solvent for cosmetics, drugs, shellacs, and as a denaturing agent.
• Methanol Methyl alcohol or wood alcohol primarily used for dehydration and de-icing in the oil and gas industry, as antifreeze, and to prevent hydrate formation in offshore sources.
• Mixed Acids Various mixed acid blends primarily used in food-contact space as pH adjusters. Brainerd provides custom formulations, manufacturing, blending, packaging, storage, and transportation.
• Nitric Acid 98+% Concentrated nitric acid used in powder metal and ceramic powder industries, and for nitration in pharmaceutical, propulsion, and munitions manufacturing. Brainerd holds a DOT Special Permit enabling drums of concentrated nitric acid to be shipped on traditional common carriers.
• Phosphoric Acid 75% FG Weak inorganic acid certified to NSF Standard 60 for corrosion and scale control in drinking water treatment; used as etching agent, pH modifier, sanitizing agent, and flavoring agent.
• Sodium Bisulfite 38-42% Solution commonly used as bleach or de-chlorinator in water treatment, food and beverage, textile, and photography industries.
• Sodium Hydroxide (Caustic) 1-50% Widely used as pH adjustment product and in scrubber applications; used to manufacture soaps, rayon, paper, explosives, dyestuffs, and petroleum products, available in 1-50% solutions.
• Sodium Hypochlorite 12.5% EPA registered sanitizer, biocide, disinfectant, antimicrobial, bleaching agent, and deodorizer used in food processing, swimming pools, and industrial water systems.
• Solvents (Mineral Spirits, Xylene, Toluene, Tetrachloroethylene, and others) Organic liquids used to dissolve or dilute other substances; includes mineral spirits, xylene, toluene, tetrachloroethylene, and others used in dry cleaning, paint thinners, and oil and gas applications.
• Sulfuric Acid 1-93% Strong inorganic acid commonly used as pH adjuster, in fertilizer production, oil refining, and water treatment; available in concentrations from 1-93% and GFSI certified for food contact below 80% concentration.
• Toluene Chemical used as paraffin solvent and carrier solvent for corrosion inhibitors in oil and gas industry, and in paint thinners, nail polish remover, adhesives, paints, and coatings.
• Chemical Blending Services Custom and contract blending services for hazardous and non-hazardous materials including peracetic acid solutions, difficult-to-handle products, and custom formulas. Three blending facilities with over 50 large-capacity tanks and batch sizes from 55 to 40,000 gallons, including capability to blend 99% and 65% nitric acid and 70% and 50% hydrofluoric acid.
• Chemical Packaging Services Large-scale packaging services for hard-to-handle acids, solvents, and industrial chemicals across four packaging facilities (Tulsa OK, Tuttle OK, Dunn NC, Danville IL), handling packaging from five-gallon pails to bulk trailers. Includes private labeling, blind shipping, and drop shipping capabilities.
• Chemical Transportation Services (Brainerd Transportation) Company-owned fleet of trucks with trained drivers for chemical and hazardous material transport, including loading and unloading, box truck or tanker deliveries, third party and blind shipments, and bulk storage. Moves over 15 million pounds per month via bulk trailer and box trailer; operates as a commercially licensed carrier with Federal Motor Carrier MC permit.

Quantifiable outcome

• Top 100 U.S. Chemical Distributor - 64th largest in North America, 205th globally
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Omni-Chem 136 AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Brainerd Chemical Company joined Omni-Chem 136 alliance in 2024, expanding their network and collaboration within the chemical distribution industry.
• National Association of Chemical Distributors (NACD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrainerd Chemical has been a member of NACD since 2005. NACD supports their vision of Responsible Distribution, advocating for sound government policies and promoting continuous improvement. Mat Brainerd served as Chairman of NACD.
• Alliance for Chemical Distribution (ACD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrainerd is a proud member of ACD and is committed to maintaining the highest quality of standards by working with chemicals in a safe and compliant manner. The company participates in ACD annual meetings and events.
• Major Chemical Suppliers (logos: BP, Arkema, Oxy, LyondellBasell, Total)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBrainerd Chemical distributes products from major chemical suppliers including BP, Arkema, OxyChem, LyondellBasell, and TotalEnergies as part of their product portfolio.
• ICIS Chemical BusinessminorOthersICIS tracks global chemical markets and publishes the Top 100 Chemical Distributors ranking. Brainerd is recognized in this ranking as 64th in North America and 205th globally.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves14 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Brenntag SE: Brenntag is the world's largest chemical distribution company, operating a global network across specialty and industrial chemistries. While far larger than Brainerd, it directly competes for the same industrial, water treatment, and oil & gas accounts and represents the dominant incumbent Brainerd must contend with.
• Univar Solutions: Univar Solutions is a major global chemical and ingredient distributor serving industrial, pharmaceutical, and consumer markets. Comparable to Brainerd in its chemical distribution role but operates at vastly greater scale and breadth, representing a key competitive force.
• IMCD N.V. IMCD is a global specialty chemicals and food ingredients distributor focused on high-value formulations. While Brainerd operates in adjacent industrial and water treatment chemistries, IMCD's specialty focus and acquisition-driven growth make it a relevant comparable for strategic direction.

Direct peers

• Hawkins, Inc. Hawkins is a publicly traded specialty chemical distributor and blender serving water treatment, food, and industrial end markets across the U.S. Midwest and beyond. It is the closest comparable in business mix (specialty distribution plus blending) and size profile to Brainerd, making it the most relevant benchmark.
• Hydrite Chemical Co. Hydrite is a privately held U.S. chemical manufacturer and distributor with custom blending capabilities and a focus on industrial, food, and water treatment customers. Comparable to Brainerd in its vertical integration across manufacturing, blending, and distribution, and similar in scale and customer verticals.
• Charkit Chemical Company: Charkit is a specialty chemical distributor focused on personal care, food, pharmaceutical, and industrial ingredients. Comparable to Brainerd in its mid-sized specialty distribution model with emphasis on regulated chemistries and value-added service.
• ICC Chemical Corporation: ICC Chemical is a global distributor of specialty and commodity chemicals serving industrial, pharmaceutical, and personal care customers. Comparable to Brainerd in its broad chemical distribution role and product portfolio across inorganic and organic chemicals.
• SolvChem Custom Packaging: SolvChem is a U.S. chemical distributor and custom packager with multi-regional facility coverage, focused on industrial and specialty chemistries. Comparable to Brainerd in its emphasis on custom packaging, blending, and regional facility-based service to industrial customers.
• Marcor Holding Corporation: Marcor is a privately held chemical distributor specializing in cleaning, sanitation, and industrial chemistries with custom blending capabilities. Comparable to Brainerd in its mid-sized distributor profile and focus on specialty industrial chemistries.

Others

• Chemical Distribution Alliance Members (Omni-Chem 136): Omni-Chem 136 is a buying and networking alliance of independent chemical distributors. Brainerd joined in 2024, providing indirect peers and ecosystem participants who share similar mid-sized independent distribution models across the U.S.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/brainerdchemco
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• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/brainerd-chemical-co.-inc.

Compliance9 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Brainerd Chemical Co., Inc.