What The Whitaker Company does

The Whitaker Company is a fourth-generation, family-owned chemical and composite materials distributor founded in 1928 and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. It operates three facilities — Atlanta GA (corporate headquarters at 1557 Marietta Road NW), Ocoee FL (280 Enterprise Street), and Spartanburg SC (405 John Dodd Road) — collectively providing 82 bulk storage tanks with nearly 3 million gallons of liquid capacity, the largest single tank holding 360,000 gallons. Core offerings include distribution of industrial chemicals (solvents, resins, alcohols, glycols, surfactants, and specialty chemicals) and value-added services: custom blending of aqueous and solvent products, private labeling, product packaging from totes down to 22oz bottles (including flammable products), onsite bulk tank storage, blend formulation consulting, and broad delivery via an owned fleet of trucks, ISO tankers, trailers, and rail cars staffed by company-employed drivers. The company also markets the proprietary KLEAR KOTE™ two-part epoxy coating system and several Whitaker-branded specialty chemicals such as ethanol solvent, brake cleaners, and white oils. Revenue is generated through transaction-based chemical sales, professional services fees for blending/packaging/consulting, licensing/royalty arrangements for private labeling, and recurring tank-storage fees. Distribution is direct-sales-led through three regional sales teams with on-site customer service, supplemented by an e-commerce storefront at products.whitaker.company that supports online purchasing, quote requests, and SDS document access. The customer base spans industrial manufacturers across the Southeast United States and nationally, served under ISO 9001:2015 certification and ACD Responsible Distribution compliance. The company is actively hiring and continuing to expand infrastructure, notably via a new tank farm at the Spartanburg facility.

Name

The Whitaker Company

Legal name

The Whitaker Company

Website

https://whitaker.company

Company type

Private

Founded year

1928

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Whitaker Company is a fourth-generation, family-owned chemical distributor and value-added service provider founded in 1928, operating three Southeast US facilities with nearly 3 million gallons of bulk storage and serving industrial manufacturers across the United States with chemical distribution, custom blending, packaging, private labeling, tank storage, and proprietary products.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Atlanta

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Chemical Distribution: Distribution of wide range of chemical products including solvents, resins, alcohols, glycols, surfactants, and specialty chemicals to industrial customers. Products sold in various package sizes from totes to small containers.
2. Custom Blending Services: Custom blending of solvent and aqueous products into various packages ranging from full tank trucks down to smallest container sizes. Services include blend formulation consulting.
3. Private Labeling: Private labeling of chemicals for partners, helping protect their brand while achieving cost savings.
4. Product Packaging: Packaging services for products in various sizes ranging from totes down to 22oz bottles, including flammable products.
5. Onsite Tank Storage: Bulk liquid storage services with 82 tanks providing nearly 3 million gallons of storage capacity.
6. Delivery Services: Broad delivery options using Whitaker fleet of trucks, ISO tankers, tankers, trailers and rail cars with company-employed drivers.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Whitaker Company distributes and blends industrial chemicals and composite materials, including solvents, resins, alcohols, glycols, surfactants, white oils, lacquer thinners, and proprietary KLEAR KOTE™ epoxy coating kits. The company also provides custom blending of aqueous and solvent products, private labeling, product packaging in sizes from totes down to 22oz bottles, onsite bulk tank storage (~3 million gallons across 82 tanks), blend formulation consulting, and broad delivery via its owned fleet. Customers are primarily industrial buyers served through direct sales from three Southeast US locations and an own-brand e-commerce portal.

Product overview

The Whitaker Company is a chemical and composite materials distributor offering a diverse portfolio of industrial chemicals and proprietary products. Their core offerings include specialty chemical categories such as acetates/esters, acids, alcohols, aliphatic/aromatic hydrocarbons, glycols, glycol ethers, ketones, amines, and surfactants. The company also provides proprietary KLEAR KOTE epoxy coating products (available in 1-gallon and half-gallon kits) designed for bar tops, table tops, and decoupage applications. Service offerings complement the product portfolio with custom blending (aqueous and solvent), product packaging, private labeling, onsite tank storage (82 tanks, nearly 3 million gallons capacity), blend formulation consulting, and broad delivery options using a company fleet of trucks, ISO tankers, trailers, and rail cars. The company operates three locations in Atlanta GA, Ocoee FL, and Spartanburg SC, serving customers throughout the United States.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• KLEAR KOTE™: Professional epoxy coating product line including KLEAR KOTE™ Kit 4 x 1 Gallon Kit and KLEAR KOTE™ Kit 4 x ½ Gallon Kit, featuring two-part epoxy resin systems for bar tops, table tops, and decoupage applications.
• Whitaker Ethanol Solvent
• Whitaker Economy Brake Cleaner
• Whitaker Premium Brake Cleaner
• Whitaker Standard Brake Cleaner

Products and services

• KLEAR KOTE™ Kit 4 x 1 Gallon Kit A two-part professional epoxy coating kit combining KLEAR KOTE Resin and KLEAR KOTE Hardener (1:1 mix ratio by volume), designed for bar tops, table tops, and decoupage applications with a high gloss, glass-like finish. Available for industrial and professional customers.
• KLEAR KOTE™ Kit 4 x ½ Gallon Kit A smaller-volume variant of the two-part professional KLEAR KOTE epoxy coating system (1:1 mix ratio by volume) for bar tops, table tops, and decoupage.
• 350 White Oil Colorless liquid white oil used in rubber, machinery, textile, petrochemical, and pharmaceutical industries. Also used as a pesticide for crop protection and in micro drop embryo cultures.
• 220 White Oil White oil with low toxicity used in food processing, animal nutrition, and cosmetics applications.
• 90 White Oil White oil used in food and nutrition, metalworking fluids, lubricants, and the automotive and transportation industries.
• KLEAR KOTE Hardener Hardener component for the proprietary KLEAR KOTE epoxy coating system, developed with modern technology and expert chemists.
• #778 Epoxy Thinner Colorless epoxy thinner blend with aromatic odor, formulated for optimal consistency in brushing, rolling, or spraying. Used for surface preparation and tool cleaning.
• #90 Lacquer Thinner Colorless specialized solvent formulation for tailoring lacquer viscosity for spray or brush applications. Also used for equipment cleaning and surface preparation.
• #64 Synth. Enam. Red. Specially formulated solvent blend, clear colorless liquid with pungent odor, used to optimize the viscosity of synthetic enamel paints for brush, roller, or spray use.
• #51 Lacquer Thinner Colorless high-performance solvent blend with aromatic odor for thinning lacquers to desired consistency for spraying or brushing.
• #48 Lacquer Thinner Colorless blend with aromatic odor for thinning lacquer to ideal viscosity for spray and brush applications. Used for surface preparation and equipment cleaning.
• #11 Lacquer Thinner Colorless liquid with pungent odor used for thinning lacquer-based paints, cleaning paint tools, adhesive removal, degreasing, and surface preparation.
• Custom Blending (Aqueous & Solvent) Custom blending service using blend tanks to mix solvent and aqueous products into various package sizes, from full tank trucks down to the smallest container sizes for industrial customers.
• Private Labeling Private labeling of chemicals for partners, helping protect their brand while achieving significant cost savings.
• Product Packaging Product packaging service for various container sizes from totes down to 22oz bottles, including flammable products.
• Onsite Tank Storage Bulk liquid storage service with 82 tanks storing nearly 3 million gallons across facilities, the largest tank at 360,000 gallons.
• Blend Formulation Consulting Technical consulting service for product reformulation to improve performance or to meet new regulatory requirements.
• Broad Delivery Options Delivery service using the Whitaker fleet of trucks, ISO tankers, tankers, trailers, and rail cars with company-employed drivers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 100 years in business
• +3 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• IntertekcoreOthersThird-party certification provider that audits and certifies The Whitaker Company's Quality Management System as compliant to ISO 9001:2015 standard. Certification updated annually with expiration in 2028.
• Alliance for Chemical Distribution (ACD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerActive member of ACD where executive team provides volunteer leadership. Company meets all ACD Responsible Distribution requirements, demonstrating commitment to safety, health, security, and environment standards.
• Chemical Distribution Network (CDN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharter member of this 20-member group of independent chemical distributors, providing network collaboration and shared best practices among regional distributors.
• ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation BoardsupportingOthersMember of accreditation board supporting quality management and standards across testing and calibration laboratories.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• ICC Chemical Corporation: Specialty chemical distributor with global sourcing and warehousing operations serving industrial customers. Comparable to Whitaker on commodity and specialty chemical distribution plus value-added services.
• Charkit Chemical Company: Specialty chemical distributor offering a wide portfolio of industrial and personal care chemicals with sourcing and repackaging capabilities. Directly comparable to Whitaker on product breadth, custom blending, and private-label services.
• Hydrite Chemical Company: US-based chemical manufacturer and distributor with custom blending and bulk liquid handling capabilities across multiple Midwest sites. Comparable to Whitaker as a regional/mid-market chemical distributor with blending and packaging services.
• Palmer Holland: North American specialty chemical distributor and manufacturer's representative focused on coatings, adhesives, plastics, and personal care ingredients. Closely comparable to Whitaker in offering both distribution and value-added services to industrial customers.

Broad incumbents

• IMCD Group: Global specialty chemicals and ingredients distributor with strong formulation and technical service capabilities. Comparable to Whitaker on specialty distribution and blending services, particularly in resins, solvents, and coatings adjacencies.
• Brenntag: Global market leader in chemical distribution with full-line industrial and specialty chemical offerings across hundreds of sites worldwide. Comparable to Whitaker as a direct competitor in industrial chemical distribution but operating at vastly greater scale and geographic breadth.
• Univar Solutions: Major North American chemical distributor serving industrial and consumer end markets. Direct overlap with Whitaker's industrial chemical, blending, and specialty distribution offerings, though at materially larger scale.
• Azelis: Global specialty chemicals and food ingredients distributor with strong formulation and technical service capabilities across EMEA, Americas, and Asia-Pacific. Comparable to Whitaker on specialty distribution, blending, and value-added services at much larger scale.

Regional players

• Haviland Enterprises: Michigan-based chemical manufacturer and distributor serving industrial, plating, and cleaning markets. Comparable mid-sized peer with similar blending, packaging, and private-label capabilities, though focused on the Midwest rather than the Southeast.
• Connell Brothers (IMCD subsidiary): Asia-Pacific focused specialty chemicals distributor and part of IMCD. Comparable in distribution model and specialty chemicals focus but operates in a different geography than Whitaker's Southeast US footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-whitaker-company

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Whitaker Company