F.W. Webb acquires Bergen Industrial Supply

No immediate plans were announced to change the Bergen name.

F.W. Webb has acquired northeast and central New Jersey PVF distributor Bergen Industrial Supply. No immediate plans were announced to change the Bergen name.

Bergen Industrial Supply is a family-run business, which serves many industries including pharmaceutical, chemical processing, food and beverage, pulp and paper, textile and utilities.

“Our companies enjoy a natural synergy since we serve many of the same industries and carry complementary high-quality lines,” said Bergen Industrial SupplyPresident James Laporte Sr. “Customers will continue working with their Bergen sales and service teams, but they will now have access to F.W. Webb’s deep resources and expanded offerings.”

F.W. Webb says the acquisition will be a strong move for the company’s market plans in New Jersey.

“Bergen’s industry experience and strong customer base will help the Webb brand expand into the New Jersey market and help us deliver the best products to our customers,” said F.W. Webb President Jeff Pope. “As customers trend toward consolidation of suppliers for efficiency reasons, the combined strength of both companies will allow us to deliver the very best to manufacturing customers and be highly competitive in the region.”

UPDATE:

Following up on news that broke just prior to March issue press time, F.W. Webb recently announced plans to acquire Elmwood Park, N.J.- based Bergen Industrial Supply. Founded in 1965, Bergen distributes industrial pipe, valves and fittings to manufacturing companies across northern and central New Jersey and serves industries such as pharmaceutical, chemical processing, food and beverage, pulp and paper, cosmetic/personal care products, textile, and utilities.

“Bergen is a great family-owned business in a territory we aren’t in and a market that has great promise,” F.W. Webb President Jeff Pope told Supply House Times. “We knew of Bergen from being Affiliated Distributors (buying group) members. We see great potential to start doing more business in that part of the Northeast.”

Pope said there are no plans to change the Bergen name or make any wholesale changes to current staff or operations.

“We’re trying to be as seamless as possible so customers and employees are unaffected,” he said. “The employees are excited about being able to sell more products. In addition to selling A, B and C, they’ll be able to sell X, Y and Z as well. They’ll be able to get restocked on a more consistent basis. We’ll bring some of our people down, but it’s going to be predominantly all Bergen people. Customers are used to talking to Bergen people. Our goal is to add on and give them the ability to jump on more opportunities. Jimmy LaPorte (Bergen president and founder) has a great story and a rich history. The LaPorte’s are well known. The Bergen name is not something we want to disrupt. We want to add to it.”

LaPorte Sr., said in a F.W. Webb press release: “Our companies enjoy a natural synergy since we serve many of the same industries and carry complementary high-quality lines. Customers will continue working with their Bergen sales and service teams, but will now have access to F.W. Webb’s deep resources and expanded offerings.”

While it has a branch 45 minutes away in Newburgh, N.Y., this is F.W. Webb’s first foray into the New Jersey market.

“We aren’t putting something in a territory too far away from any other Webb operations,” Pope said. “The New York-New Jersey area is definitely a market unto itself. New Jersey is a new area for us. It’s going to be a learning curve, but we’re excited about the learning process. We have a healthy respect about going in there. While we are F.W. Webb, the customers don’t know who F.W. Webb is. This is a great opportunity for us. We know we’ll have to work very hard to earn the customers’ respect and hopefully their business. We’re going to do that and never stop.”