June 1, 2023
Cooper Electric to Acquire Billows Electric Supply
Sonepar adds 19 branches in Metro Philly, South Jersey and Delaware
Sonepar's US subsidiary, Cooper Electric, has announced its agreement to acquire Billows Electric Supply, a family-owned business established in 1950. Billows Electric provides a range of electrical products and services to customers in the Philadelphia, South Jersey, and Wilmington, Delaware metropolitan market.
With 19 branch locations and over 285 employees, Billows Electric ranks at number 51 on the Electrical Wholesaling Top 150 list, with estimated revenues over $210 million. Cooper Electric has 55 branches spanning from New York City metro to Eastern Pennsylvania. With the impending acquisition, Billows will soon be able to tap into Cooper Electric’s 600,000 square foot distribution center which is centrally located in Cranbury, New Jersey not far from the notorious Molly Pitcher Service Area near New Jersey Turnpike Exit 8.
Cooper Electric is already one of the “Big Two” electrical distributor chains in Northern New Jersey with Turtle & Hughes being its capable competitor there. The acquisition of Billows strengthens the Cooper Electric portfolio adding significant coverage in the Billows footprint which has particularly strong presence in Southern New Jersey.
Some proximity overlap of nearby branches is noticeable in some areas, but in the highly congested Philadelphia metro area separation by 5-10 miles might be plenty to serve a variety of different contractors and end users.
SOUTH JERSEY
- The Billows branch in Berlin is 2.1 miles from the Cooper Electric location in West Berlin.
- The Billows branch in Haddon Heights is 3.3 miles from the Cooper Electric location in Pennsauken.
- The Billows branch in Maple Shade is 5.5 miles from the Cooper Electric location in Pennsauken.
- The Billows branch in Wall is 7.4 miles from the Cooper Electric location in Ocean Township.
PENNSYLVANIA
- The Billows branch in Conshohocken is 6.5 miles from the Cooper Electric location in Philadelphia and only 0.2 miles from the legendary Wing-It Wednesday at Flanigan’s Boathouse.
- A Billows branch in Philadelphia is 8.7 miles from the Cooper Electric location in Broomall.
Above (L to R): David Cooper, President of Cooper Electric; Jeff Billow, Owner & CEO Billows Electric Supply and
Alan Rosenfeld, East Region President, Sonepar USA
Rob Taylor, President of Sonepar North America, expressed enthusiasm about the acquisition, stating, "The addition of Billows Electric Supply will expand our coverage and strengthen our presence in these crucial markets. This partnership presents an exciting opportunity for growth, as Billows can leverage Sonepar's investment in Cooper Electric's cutting-edge automated distribution center, delivering exceptional services to customers within Billows' market."
David Cooper, President of Cooper Electric, shared his perspective on the acquisition, saying, "Billows has established an exceptional reputation in the marketplace, and we are delighted to welcome their experienced associates into our network."
Jeff Billow, the current owner and CEO of Billows Electric, expressed the importance of finding a partner who values and supports their longstanding family-owned business. Billow acknowledged that Sonepar impressed them with their capabilities and resources, providing opportunities for further growth and development. He extended gratitude to their skilled staff, dedicated customers, and manufacturing partners, emphasizing their collaborative efforts over the decades.
The acquisition is subject to approval from competition authorities and is scheduled to conclude in June.
