Acme Refrigeration
Acme Refrigeration is a privately held HVAC/R wholesale distributor serving HVAC contractors and commercial builders across Louisiana and Mississippi through 18+ physical branches and an e-commerce platform, with a 100K+ SKU catalog and an integrated mobile app for ordering, inventory, and warranty management.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1945
- HeadquartersFlorida, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Acme Refrigeration does
Acme Refrigeration (legal entity Acme Refrigeration Distributors, LLC) is a privately held HVAC/R wholesale distributor founded in 1945 by Adrian E. Kaiser, Sr. in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and currently operating as an affiliate of Gemaire Distributors LLC within the Watsco corporate family. The company distributes a catalog of more than 100,000 HVAC/R products spanning residential and commercial air conditioning, heating, refrigeration, water heaters, thermostats, parts, indoor air quality systems, and accessories from manufacturers including Rheem, Mitsubishi, Gree, Comfortmaker, Friedrich, Scotsman, and others. Its geographic footprint comprises 17 branches across Louisiana, 1 branch in Jackson, Mississippi, and Kaiser Supply locations in the Greater New Orleans metro (Harahan, Harvey, New Orleans East), positioning it as a regional distributor anchored in the Gulf Coast.
The company operates a hybrid distribution model combining physical branch will-call and freight delivery with a full e-commerce platform at acmeref.com and the HVAC Pro+ mobile application, which together provide 24/7 ordering, real-time inventory lookup, and account management. Digital tool stack includes the GEMstock inventory management module, the AHRI Matchups Selector for certified system configuration, GemPay invoicing integrated with Versapay, Order Templates for bulk reordering, and an online warranty claims process that does not require part return. Wingman technical support, including a January 2026 integration with the Mitsubishi Diamond Service Group for certified contractors, provides live video and text chat through the app.
Revenue is generated primarily through one-time wholesale equipment and parts sales to HVAC contractors and commercial builders, supplemented by recurring credit-account services (Net-30 terms) and a small transaction-fee layer via online dealer co-op programs. Pricing is quote-based and account-gated rather than publicly disclosed. The go-to-market is sales-led, with direct relationships managed through branch-based account representatives and supported by bundled third-party software (OnCall Air, Housecall Pro, Amply, Alert Labs, Credit for Comfort) sourced from Watsco Ventures portfolio companies. Customer support operates centrally at (888) 601-0038 and through email, with dedicated phone and mobile channels.
Acme Refrigeration firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Acme Refrigeration
- Legal name
- Acme Refrigeration Distributors, LLC
- Website
- https://acmeref.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1945
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Acme Refrigeration is a privately held HVAC/R wholesale distributor serving HVAC contractors and commercial builders across Louisiana and Mississippi through 18+ physical branches and an e-commerce platform, with a 100K+ SKU catalog and an integrated mobile app for ordering, inventory, and warranty management.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Acme Refrigeration industry classification
Industry- Product category
- HVAC/R Wholesale Distribution
- NAICS
- Refrigeration Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers (423740), Warm Air Heating and Air-Conditioning Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers (42373)
- SIC
- Wholesale-Hardware & Plumbing & Heating Equipment & Supplies (5070), Refrigeration & Service Industry Machinery (3580)
- akta.pro primary industry
- HVAC, Water Heaters & Indoor Air Quality Distribution (CRAOAFAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Commercial Refrigeration & HVAC (Foodservice) Wholesale (AFAIALAI)
Keywords
Where Acme Refrigeration is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Florida
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices10 records
Markets served
Acme Refrigeration business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- HVAC Equipment Sales: Wholesale distribution of HVAC equipment including residential and commercial air conditioning, heating, refrigeration, and related systems. Sells equipment from brands including Rheem, Mitsubishi, Gree, Comfortmaker, and others.
- Parts and Supplies Distribution: Distribution of HVAC parts, components, thermostats, indoor air quality products, water heaters, and accessories. Features over 100K products in catalog.
- Credit Account Services: Provides credit accounts to qualified contractors and businesses, enabling Net-30 payment terms for bulk purchases.
- Online Dealer CO-OP Programs: Marketing co-op programs accessible from account dashboard, allowing dealers to participate in joint promotional activities.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | One time/ perpetual license | Comfort For Heroes Promotion - 10% off Mitsubishi HVAC equipment and installation |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
Acme Refrigeration product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Acme Refrigeration is a wholesale HVAC/R distributor that sells residential and commercial heating, air conditioning, refrigeration, and water heating equipment along with parts, thermostats, and indoor air quality products from brands such as Rheem, Mitsubishi, Gree, Comfortmaker, and Friedrich. Distribution is conducted through 18+ physical branch locations in Louisiana and Mississippi and an e-commerce storefront carrying over 100,000 SKUs. The company supports contractors with proprietary digital tools including the HVAC Pro+ Mobile App, GemPay invoicing, GEMstock inventory management, AHRI Matchups, and Wingman live technical support.
Product overview
Acme Refrigeration operates as a full-service HVAC/R wholesaler with an e-commerce platform (AcmeRef.com) and over 18 branch locations in Louisiana and Mississippi. The core product offering includes the Acme HVAC Pro+ Mobile App for field technicians, supplemented by digital tools for ordering (Quick Order, Order Templates), invoicing (GemPay via Versapay), inventory management (GEMstock), and AHRI-matched system configuration. The company distributes a portfolio of equipment brands including Rheem, Mitsubishi, Gree, Comfortmaker, Friedrich, and Scotsman, along with parts brands (TradePro, White-Rodgers, Nu-Calgon, Protech, DiversiTech), smart home devices (Google Nest), and indoor air quality products (Fresh-Aire UV, PlasmaPure, iWave, REME Halo). Acme also partners with third-party software providers including OnCall Air (sales software), Housecall Pro (field service management), Amply (design/load calculation), Alert Labs (leak detection), and Credit for Comfort (financing), which are recommended to contractors but are separate software platforms.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Acme HVAC Pro+ Mobile App: Mobile application providing HVAC contractors access to product data, inventory, warranty submission, AHRI system builder, and online ordering while on the go.
- GemStock
- GemPay
- Wingman
Products and services
- Residential and Commercial HVAC Equipment Distribution Wholesale distribution of heating, air conditioning, mini-split, and water heating equipment from brands such as Rheem, Mitsubishi, Gree, Comfortmaker, and Friedrich, sold to HVAC contractors and commercial builders through branch locations and the acmeref.com online store.
- HVAC Parts, Components, and Supplies Distribution Distribution of over 100,000 SKUs of HVAC parts, thermostats, indoor air quality products, water heater accessories, and supplies from brands including TradePro, White-Rodgers, Nu-Calgon, Protech, DiversiTech, Google Nest, and Fresh-Aire UV.
- Commercial Refrigeration Equipment Distribution Wholesale distribution of commercial refrigeration equipment including ice machines (Scotsman) and walk-in cold storage for restaurants, schools, hospitals, hotels, and industrial facilities.
- Acme HVAC Pro+ Mobile App Proprietary mobile application providing HVAC contractors product data, real-time branch inventory, warranty status, barcode scanning, push notifications, and on-the-go ordering through their Acme Refrigeration account. Available on the App Store and Google Play.
Quantifiable outcome
- Shop a catalog of +100K Products in one place
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Acme Refrigeration
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Acme Refrigeration technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
Feature7 records
Acme Refrigeration partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- OnCall AircoreSales software built for HVAC featuring AHRI match-ups, live inventory, dynamic pricing, interactive quotes, and a powerful proposal builder. Offered as a Watsco Ventures portfolio company integrated with Acme Refrigeration services.
- Housecall ProcoreTop-rated field service management software built for the trades with smart scheduling and dispatching, online booking, fast payments, and essential business tools. Offered as a Watsco Ventures portfolio company integrated with Acme Refrigeration services.
- Credit for ComfortminorFinancing program to power sales teams with simple and easy-to-use financing for closing sales on the first visit. Offered as a Watsco Ventures portfolio company.
- Gemaire Distributors LLCcoreParent company and affiliated HVAC distributor. Acme Refrigeration LLC is an affiliate of Gemaire Distributors LLC, operating as part of the same corporate family under Watsco.
- Heating & Cooling Supply LLCminorAffiliated entity of Acme Refrigeration operating in California, Arizona, and Nevada markets. Located in Ranch Cordova, CA.
- Kaiser SupplyminorDivision of Acme Refrigeration family operating in Greater New Orleans area with stores in Harahan, Harvey, and New Orleans East.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Acme Refrigeration competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Carrier Enterprise: Distributor of Carrier and Bryant HVAC/R equipment and parts to contractors across the southern U.S. Direct competitor in Louisiana/Mississippi with a comparable HVAC/R product catalog and branch-based distribution model.
- Johnstone Supply: National HVAC/R wholesale cooperative serving residential and commercial contractors with multi-brand equipment, parts, and digital tools. Directly competes with Acme in Louisiana and Mississippi and operates a similar counter-and-delivery model with e-commerce.
- Trane Supply: Trane Technologies' distributor arm selling Trane/Mitsubishi Trane HVAC equipment and parts to contractors. Competes head-to-head with Acme in the Gulf South, with similar commercial/residential contractor focus and digital ordering tools.
- R.E. Michel Company: Independent HVAC/R wholesale distributor with branches across the eastern and southern U.S. Directly comparable to Acme in customer base (HVAC contractors), product mix (multi-brand equipment and parts), and branch-based distribution model.
- Heating & Cooling Supply: Watsco-affiliated HVAC distributor operating in California, Arizona, and Nevada. Direct corporate sibling of Acme, sharing Watsco's HVAC distribution platform, technology, and brand portfolio.
- Gemaire Distributors: Direct corporate sibling of Acme Refrigeration under Watsco, operating HVAC distribution branches in Florida and the southeastern U.S. Shares HVAC Pro+ mobile app, GemPay, GEMstock, and AHRI system tools with Acme.
Regional players
- Gateway Supply Company: Regional HVAC/R distributor with multi-state operations in the Mid-South and Southeast. Competes with Acme for contractor accounts in overlapping geographies and offers similar multi-brand equipment and parts assortment.
- Texas AirSystems: Large regional HVAC distributor serving Texas and surrounding states with commercial and residential equipment. Comparable to Acme in commercial-builder and contractor focus, though operating in a different geography.
Broad incumbents
- Watsco: Acme's parent company and the largest HVAC/R distributor in North America. Operates a national network of HVAC distribution subsidiaries (Gemaire, Carrier Enterprise JV, etc.) and provides shared technology, brand relationships, and scale advantages to Acme.
- Ferguson Enterprises: Large diversified plumbing, HVAC, and waterworks distributor with national branch network. Overlaps with Acme in commercial HVAC distribution and offers the scale and credit capacity to win larger commercial/construction projects.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Acme Refrigeration social profiles
Digital presenceAcme Refrigeration financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Acme Refrigeration leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Acme Refrigeration subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Acme Refrigeration funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Acme Refrigeration M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Acme Refrigeration
What does Acme Refrigeration do?
Acme Refrigeration is a wholesale HVAC/R distributor that sells residential and commercial heating, air conditioning, refrigeration, and water heating equipment along with parts, thermostats, and indoor air quality products from brands such as Rheem, Mitsubishi, Gree, Comfortmaker, and Friedrich. Distribution is conducted through 18+ physical branch locations in Louisiana and Mississippi and an e-commerce storefront carrying over 100,000 SKUs. The company supports contractors with proprietary digital tools including the HVAC Pro+ Mobile App, GemPay invoicing, GEMstock inventory management, AHRI Matchups, and Wingman live technical support.
Is Acme Refrigeration a public or private company?
Acme Refrigeration is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Acme Refrigeration founded?
Acme Refrigeration was founded in 1945. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Acme Refrigeration based?
Acme Refrigeration is headquartered in Florida, United States, in the North America region.
How does Acme Refrigeration make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. HVAC Equipment Sales are the primary driver. The others are parts and Supplies Distribution, credit Account Services and online Dealer CO-OP Programs.
Who are Acme Refrigeration's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Carrier Enterprise, Johnstone Supply, Trane Supply, R.E. Michel Company, Heating & Cooling Supply and Gemaire Distributors. Regional players are Gateway Supply Company and Texas AirSystems. Broad incumbents are Watsco and Ferguson Enterprises.
Does Acme Refrigeration have an API?
No public API is recorded for Acme Refrigeration.
What industry is Acme Refrigeration in?
Acme Refrigeration's product category is HVAC/R Wholesale Distribution. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAOAFAJ, HVAC, Water Heaters & Indoor Air Quality Distribution, with a secondary code of AFAIALAI, Commercial Refrigeration & HVAC (Foodservice) Wholesale. Its NAICS code is 423740 and its SIC code is 5070.