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 The company was incorporated in 1922 under the name
Utility Supply Company. During the early 1930s, the Company published its first office
products catalog. The concept was such a success that the business was further expanded
with the opening of its first retail store in 1937. In the early 1950s, in addition to its
catalog and retail operation, management recognized growing opportunities in the office
products wholesale business. In 1970, the company opened its first state-of-the-art
distribution center. As time passed, the Company found it difficult to compete as both a
retailer and wholesaler. So, in 1978, the retail operations were sold and the Company
began to operate exclusively as an office products wholesaler.
To provide the capital to further its growth, United Stationers went public
in 1981. In 1984, the Company established MicroUnited to capitalize on the growth in the
computer supplies sector. The company's MicroUnited division focused on the distribution
of peripherals and supplies to computer products resellers. United Stationers recognized
that its marketing programs and distribution infrastructure would be attractive to
customers within other industries. Therefore, the company established its United Facility
Supply Division in 1994 to participate in the
distribution of facility maintenance
supplies. To further its growth in this area, on October 31, 1996 the Company acquired
Lagasse Bros., Inc., a wholesaler of
janitorial and sanitation supplies.
As competition in the late 1980s intensified
within the office products industry, consolidation at all levels of the industry became
commonplace. In June of 1992, United Stationers acquired Stationers Distributing Company,
a $425 million office products wholesaler in Fort Worth, Texas. This transaction made the
Company a $1.5 billion wholesale distributor. In March of 1995, the Company merged with
Associated Stationers, a $475 million general line wholesaler.
On April 3, 1998, United Stationers acquired Azerty, a $350 million wholesaler of
computer consumables. Subsequently, the company's MicroUnited division was merged into
Azerty.
In July 2000, United Stationers increased
its geographic penetration in Canada by purchasing Azerty Canada, a $115 million computer
consumables business. The company was renamed Azerty/United Canada after merging the Azerty and United operations.
To broaden Lagasse’s reach, the company
completed the acquisition of Peerless Paper, a $75 million wholesaler in the janitorial/sanitation industry, in January
2001.
In May 2005,
Lagasse completed the purchase of
Sweet Paper, a $250 million
distributor of janitorial/sanitation, paper and foodservice
products. This acquisition expanded Lagasse's product line and
enhanced its scale and infrastructure in key markets.
On
March 31, 2006, United Stationers decided to sell its Canadian
division. In June 2006, the company completed the sale of certain
assets associated with its Canadian
division.
To diversify and expand its product and customer base, United Stationers acquired
ORS Nasco, a $285 million wholesale distributor of industrial supplies, on December 21, 2007.
Today, United Stationers, with sales of
approximately $5.0 billion, is well positioned to continue its rich heritage of growth and
innovation.
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