Robertson Electric Wholesale

What Robertson Electric Wholesale does

Robertson Electric Wholesale is a Canadian full-line electrical solutions provider and wholesale distributor headquartered in Vaughan, Ontario, operating 19 branch locations across Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia. Founded in 1952 as Robertson Electric Sales Limited, the company distributes more than 100,000 products sourced from approximately 1,300 manufacturers and serves more than 5,000 customers across residential, commercial, industrial, national accounts, utilities, wire & cable, and project services segments. The product catalog spans 17 categories including conduit, distribution equipment, lighting, motor control, security, tools, utility hardware, wire & cable, and wiring devices, and is complemented by value-added services such as lighting retrofit and redesign, project management for large construction projects, a lamp recycling program (108,356 lamps recycled since 2009), and a National Accounts program shipping across North America.

The business operates a multi-channel go-to-market: an active field sales force with knowledgeable counter staff and daily delivery, a dedicated National Accounts sales team, and a direct e-commerce storefront at store.robertson-electric.com paired with the Robertson Rewards loyalty program. Technology infrastructure includes Electronic Data Interchange, Job Management Software, API integration, Vendor Managed Inventory, and E-Commerce capabilities targeted at utility customers. Pricing is unit-based wholesale in Canadian dollars on net-30 terms, with 2% per month interest charged on balances over 60 days.

On September 2, 2024, Sonepar Canada acquired Robertson Electric Wholesale 2008 Limited from the Campbell family, making it a subsidiary of the world's largest privately-held B2B electrical distributor, which posted €33.3 billion in 2023 sales across 40 countries and operates 100+ Canadian branches with 2,000+ associates. The company continues to operate under the Robertson brand and has subsequently opened its 19th branch in Calgary, Alberta in 2025.

Name

Robertson Electric Wholesale

Legal name

Robertson Electric Wholesale Ltd.

Website

https://robertson-electric.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1952

Operating status

Acquired

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Robertson Electric Wholesale is a Canadian full-line electrical solutions provider and wholesale distributor, distributing 100,000+ products from 1,300+ manufacturers through 19 branches to 5,000+ customers across residential, commercial, industrial, utility, and national accounts segments. Now a subsidiary of Sonepar Canada.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Electrical Wholesale Distribution

NAICS

Other Electronic Parts and Equipment Merchant Wholesalers (423690), Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods (423)

SIC

Wholesale-Electrical Apparatus & Equipment, Wiring Supplies (5063), Wholesale-Machinery, Equipment & Supplies (5080)

akta.pro primary industry

Electrical Supplies Retail (Wiring, Switches, Breakers, Conduit) (CRAIADAE)

Keywords

• Electrical wholesale distribution
• Lighting solutions
• Wire and cable supply
• Utility products distribution
• Project management services

Headquarters

HQ city

Vaughan

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices20 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. Electrical Product Wholesale Distribution: Core revenue stream from wholesale distribution of electrical, lighting, wire, and utility products to contractors, builders, and maintenance companies across Canada
2. Lighting Retrofit Services: Energy efficient lighting solutions including initial audit, energy analysis, proposal, and installation services
3. Project Management Services: Dedicated project team managing large projects such as government buildings, airports, retail stores, shopping malls, and school buildings with extensive experience in delivering success
4. Lamp Recycling Services: Environmental services including lamp recycling program with recycling boxes and pickup services

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Robertson Electric Wholesale is a Canadian wholesale distributor of electrical, lighting, wire and cable, and utility products, operating 19 branches across Canada and an e-commerce store. The company sources over 100,000 products from approximately 1,300 manufacturers and supplies them to electrical contractors, builders, industrial firms, utilities, and national account customers, complemented by value-added services such as lighting retrofits, project management, lamp recycling, custom wire cutting, and inventory management solutions.

Product overview

Robertson Electric Wholesale operates a wholesale electrical distribution business with a unified e-commerce platform (online store) and 17 distinct product categories spanning electrical supplies (adhesives, batteries, boxes, conduit, connectors, distribution, emergency lighting, fasteners, fuses, HVAC, lighting, motor control, security, tools, utility, wire & cable, wiring devices). Beyond product distribution, the portfolio includes complementary service offerings: Robertson Rewards (loyalty program), Lighting Retrofit & Redesign Services, Lamp Recycling Program, Project Management Services, National Accounts Services, and market-specific services for residential, commercial, and industrial customers. The company distributes over 100,000 products sourced from approximately 1,300 manufacturers across 19 strategically placed Canadian locations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Electrical Wholesale Distribution Wholesale distribution of over 100,000 electrical products sourced from approximately 1,300 manufacturers across 17 product categories (adhesives, batteries, conduit, connectors, distribution, emergency lighting, fasteners, fuses, HVAC, lighting, motor control, security, tools, utility, wire & cable, wiring devices). Served through 19 branches and an online store to contractors, builders, and industrial customers.
• Online Store (store.robertson-electric.com) E-commerce platform enabling direct online purchasing and browsing of electrical products across all 17 product categories, supporting search and category-level navigation.
• Lighting Retrofit & Redesign Services Energy-efficient lighting solutions including initial site audit, energy analysis, lighting layouts with point-by-point redesign, proposal development, installation support, and control integration. Delivered to commercial and institutional customers.
• Lamp Recycling Program Environmental compliance service for recycling spent lamps, including order forms, step-by-step instructions, video guidance, recycling boxes, and pickup services. Recovers metals, glass, mercury, and phosphor.
• Project Management Services Dedicated project team managing large-scale construction projects including government buildings, airports, retail stores, shopping malls, and school buildings. Leverages 15+ strategically placed locations across Canada.
• National Accounts Services Comprehensive electrical package support for national accounts, including lamp recycling, in-house lighting layout and design, energy audits, retrofits, IES-accredited lighting specialists, North America shipping, project management, dedicated customer inventory, and global sourcing.
• Inventory Visibility and Control Solutions Technology-enabled inventory management solutions for utility customers, including Electronic Data Interchange (EDI), Job Management Software, API connectivity, Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI), and e-commerce capabilities.
• Robertson Rewards Program Customer loyalty and rewards program allowing customers to earn rewards on purchases, operated with a separate catalog and account system at robertsonrewards.ca.
• Custom Wire & Cable Cutting Services Comprehensive wire and cable division with modernized equipment providing custom wire and cable cuts, reel management, and speed-to-market products. Non-returnable custom cuts and special orders.

Quantifiable outcome

• 108,356 lamps recycled since 2009 (with associated metals, glass, mercury, and phosphor recovered)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• First Canadian Buying Group for Electric DistributorscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRobertson Electric Wholesale has been a part of the first Canadian buying group for electric distributors since 1968, providing access to tier-one manufacturers and their high-quality goods, services, and warranties.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Wesco International: Wesco is a global electrical, communications, and utility distribution leader serving North American customers with comparable product breadth. As a broad-line incumbent, Wesco competes for large national and utility accounts that Robertson also targets.
• Schneider Electric Canada: Schneider Electric is a global electrical equipment manufacturer that supplies through distribution channels including Robertson. As a manufacturer with vertical integration ambitions, it competes partially with distributors via direct-account programs and digital platforms.
• Eaton Canada: Eaton is a major electrical products manufacturer whose brands (Cutler-Hammer, Cooper, Bussmann) are stocked and distributed by Robertson. As a manufacturer with growing direct-to-customer digital capabilities, Eaton represents both a key supplier and partial channel competitor.

Direct peers

• Graybar Canada: Graybar is a major North American electrical, communications, and data networking products distributor with Canadian operations directly competing in the same contractor, commercial, and utility customer segments as Robertson.
• Guillevin International: One of Canada's largest independent electrical distributors operating across Canada with similar breadth of electrical, lighting, wire, and utility products. Directly competes with Robertson in the same core B2B contractor and industrial customer base.
• EECOL Electric: EECOL Electric is a major Canadian electrical wholesaler serving industrial, commercial, and contractor markets across Western and Central Canada, with comparable product breadth including wire & cable, lighting, and automation products.
• Gescan (Sonepar Canada): Gescan is a sister Sonepar Canada brand and direct competitor to Robertson in Canadian electrical wholesale, particularly in Western Canada and Ontario. Both brands now operate under the same parent post-2024 acquisition.
• Independent Electric Supply (IES): Independent Electric Supply is a Canadian electrical distributor with comparable product portfolio and customer base, operating branches across multiple provinces and serving contractors and industrial accounts.
• Rexel Canada (Westburne/Nedco): Rexel's Canadian operations (Westburne, Nedco) are direct competitors in Canadian electrical wholesale distribution, serving contractors, industrial, commercial, and institutional customers with similar product breadth and project management services.

Regional players

• Mayhew Electric: Mayhew Electric is an Ontario-based electrical wholesaler serving similar contractor and commercial customers in the Greater Toronto Area and surrounding regions, providing direct regional competition to Robertson's Ontario stronghold.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/RobertsonElectr
• Facebookfacebook.com/robertson.electric.wholesale
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/robertson-electric-wholesale
• Instagraminstagram.com/robertsonelectric

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Robertson Electric Wholesale