Type: Public
On the web: http://www.grainger.com
Employees: 18,500
Employee growth: 2.8%

Home, home on the Grainger is a well-stocked place. W.W. Grainger distributes more than 1 million industrial products, from supplies to equipment and tools. The short list has electrical devices, fasteners, fleet maintenance equipment, hand tools, hardware, janitorial, lighting, office supplies, power and plumbing tools, and safety, security, and test instruments. Its 2 million customers are largely contractors, maintenance and repair shops, manufacturers, and commercial, government, healthcare, and educational facilities. Grainger sells through a network of branches, distribution centers, catalogs, and websites. More than 80% of sales are made in the US, the remainder in Canada, Asia, and Latin America.

Key numbers for fiscal year ending December, 2010:
Sales: $7,182.2M
One year growth: 15.4%
Net income: $510.9M
Income growth: 18.7%

Officers:
Chairman, President, and CEO: James T. (Jim) Ryan
SVP and CFO: Ronald L. Jadin
SVP and CIO: Timothy M. (Tim) Ferrarell

Competitors:
Applied Industrial Technologies
Graybar Electric
WESCO International

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