United Stationers Inc. (NASDAQ: USTR), Deerfield, IL, reported sales for the second quarter of $1.3 billion, flat to the prior year. Profit increased 28 percent to $34.7 million.
Strong growth was seen in the industrial supplies category with sales up 31.5 percent for the second quarter, which benefited from the acquisition of OKI Supply in the fourth quarter of 2012. Janitorial/breakroom sales grew 2.6 percent. Sales for office products, technology and furniture categories were down 4 percent, 6.3 percent and 5 percent, respectively, reflecting a soft demand environment.
Sales in the first half were $2.5 billion for United Stationers, flat to the prior-year period. Second-half profit increased 15.2 percent to $48.5 million.
Industrial supplies sales in the second half increased 33.5 percent and the janitorial/breakroom category saw a 2.8 percent increase after adjusting for workdays. Office products were down by 5.2 percent, furniture sales were down 4.1 percent and technology sales declined 6.1 percent.
