May 3, 2024
Current HLI Expands FRM Partnership to Miami
Following their 2023 merger, FRM and Bell & McCoy continue to secure key markets with Current
Current HLI Brands, formerly known as Hubbell Lighting, is transitioning its agency representation in Southeastern Florida. Effective August 1, the brand group will be represented by FRM Lighting & Controls, marking another significant shift in Current’s lighting portfolio towards the merged entity of Bell & McCoy and FRM.
Notably, this is the second Southeastern U.S. territory, along with South Carolina, where the three-month-old division of FRM Lighting & Controls has secured the prominent lighting anchor line, Current HLI. In February, FRM announced the formation of its Lighting & Controls division, which was established through the acquisition of an existing lighting agent and various partnerships with another significant part of the Current portfolio, Current's GLI Brands.
Current’s GLI Brands already had complete coverage throughout Florida with the dynamic duo of FRM and Bell & McCoy. With this latest move, FRM will take over representation of both Current HLI and GLI in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale markets, transitioning the state's largest market onto FRM’s line card.
This continued expansion is drawing comparisons to the strategic positioning of lighting agent SESCO Lighting, headquartered in Florida, which boasts a multi-territory footprint with Genlyte Solutions across 15+ territories in the Southeastern U.S., directly competing with Bell & McCoy — FRM in the lighting market.
Will this new partnership revive Current HLI in Miami?
In the 1990s and early 2000s, the Current HLI Brands — then Hubbell Lighting — had a significant presence in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale markets through its partnership with lighting agent, Power & Lighting Systems. This relationship ended about a dozen years ago when Acuity Brands lured Power & Lighting Systems away, leading to many years of market penetration challenges for Hubbell Lighting, now known as Current HLI Brands.
The Current HLI Brands had partnered with Acuity Brands’ castoff agent Southeastern Florida Lighting (SEFL), but struggled to regain the market traction it had previously enjoyed. In late 2022, Current HLI Brands severed its ties with SEFL and partnered with Slater Lighting, a Florida-based agent that had simultaneously partnered with New York-based Electric Lighting Agencies (ELA) to form Slater Lighting, Powered by ELA. However, that partnership is now slated to end in under two years, as Current HLI Brands is expanding its relationship with the newly merged multi-territory agency of Bell & McCoy — FRM.
Current HLI Brands representation in the Southern U.S.
Above: Current HLI agent partnerships in the Southern U.S. Bell & McCoy-FRM highlighted in gold.
This latest move brings yet another Current HLI market into the Bell & McCoy — FRM footprint, although several Current HLI territories still remain outside the Bell & McCoy FRM purview. The overall territory footprint of Bell & McCoy — FRM spans the Southern U.S. from the Atlantic Coast to Arizona.
FRM’s new Lighting & Controls division is making waves
In November 2023, FRM, already significant player in the Southeast U.S. electrical industry, merged with Bell & McCoy Companies – a powerhouse agent, prominent in the South Central U.S., known for its dual-pronged approach to representing electrical and lighting solutions. The merger between FRM and Bell & McCoy, a company already deeply linked with Current, helped fuel FRM's move into the lighting sector.
In February 2024, FRM launched its new division, FRM Lighting & Controls. As part of this expansion, FRM acquired Affiliated Lighting and Controls of Florida and Affiliated Lighting and Controls of North & South Carolina. This strategic move was solidified further when FRM Lighting & Controls secured a deal to represent Current's HLI & GLI brands in South Carolina.
In Florida, FRM’s newly acquired Affiliated Lighting and Controls had a team of 25 professionals providing coverage throughout the state, excluding the. This acquisition complemented the existing presence of Bell & McCoy Lighting & Controls in the Florida Panhandle, where they already represented brands like Lutron, enabling comprehensive statewide coverage for Lutron. Affiliated Lighting and Controls of Florida boasted a strong portfolio, representing major manufacturer brands such as Current GLI, LSI Industries, Cree Lighting, and Lutron.
The complete tally of FRM and Current partnerships now includes:
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HLI Luminaire & Controls Brands: South Carolina and Southeastern Florida (effective August 1, 2024)
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GLI Luminaire & Controls Brands: South Carolina, North Carolina, and Florida (excluding Florida Panhandle markets, which are with Bell & McCoy)
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GLI Roadway – Non-Metered, Municipal and DOT: North Carolina
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GLI Roadway – Non-Metered, Municipal: North Florida
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Forum: South Carolina and Southeastern Florida (effective August 1, 2024)
With this recent strategic move in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale market, Bell & McCoy — FRM is further consolidating its influence in Current's portfolio. Their partnership may continue to expand even further, signaling a strategic push for more territory and stronger ties in the Southern U.S. markets.
