Grainger, Top U.S. Industrial Supply Distributor, Creates Joint Venture in Colombia
In June, top U.S. industrial supply distributor W.W. Grainger Inc. announced that it has formed a joint venture with an affiliate of Torhefe, a leading distributor of maintenance, repair and operating (MRO) supplies in Colombia. The establishment of this partnership, which will be called Grainger Colombia, demonstrates the growing demand and opportunities available in the South American country and further builds on Grainger’s international expansion and recent investments in Latin America.
"Grainger Colombia brings together Torhefe’s rich history of customer service in Colombia, andGrainger’s unmatched North American supply chain and commitment to service,” said Court Carruthers, President, Grainger International. “Grainger continues to make strategic
Investments in Latin America that enable businesses to have access to a broad line of products and solutions that help keep their operations running efficiently and keep their employees safe on the job.”
Torhefe, with 2009 sales of $23 million USD, has been a leading distributor of MRO supplies, with an emphasis on fasteners, in Colombia since 1984. The company has five locations, including Barranquilla, Bogota, Cali, Cartagena and Medellin. The joint venture plans to operate under the Torhefe brand name in its existing locations, transitioning to the Grainger name over the next year. The establishment of Grainger Colombia further builds on Grainger’s international expansion and recent investments in Latin America. Grainger had sales of $6.2 billion in 2009.
"We share a common passion for providing superior service to our customers,” said Carlos Acevedo, President, Torhefe. "We expect a seamless transition for our employees and customers and know they will appreciate and benefit from the expanded product offering and availability that comes from joining forces with North America’s leading broad-line industrial distributor."
