United Stationers Inc., Deerfield, IL, reported sales in 2007 grew 2.2% to $4.6 billion. This increase reflected continued strong growth in the janitorial and breakroom supplies category.
 
Sales for the fourth quarter were $1.1 billion, up 0.6% compared with the prior-year period. After adjusting for an additional workday in 2007, sales were down 1.1%.
 
First quarter organic sales to date are trending up approximately 1.6% over the same time last year, driven by strong revenues from janitorial and breakroom supplies,” said CEO Richard Gochnauer. “Office product sales remain soft. Including incremental sales related to ORS Nasco, reported revenues to date are up approximately 7.3%, compared to the prior year.”
 
“Our focus on profitable growth opportunities, and effectively managing costs and working capital, allowed United to report another year of strong performance despite challenging economic conditions in 2007,” said Richard W. Gochnauer, president and chief executive officer. “These strategies also enabled us to deliver improved operating margins and strong cash flow. In addition, the December 2007 acquisition of ORS Nasco, with sales of nearly $285 million in 2007, gives us a new growth platform beginning in 2008.”
 
United Stationers Inc. is a broadline master distributor of business, janitorial, breakroom and industrial products with net sales for 2007 of $4.6 billion. The company’s network of 62 distribution centers services 20,000 reseller customers.
 
The acquisition of ORS Nasco, Inc. in December 2007 adds eight distribution facilities to the company’s network. ORS Nasco is a pure wholesale distributor of industrial supplies that offers about 200,000 products from over 600 manufacturers to its more than 10,000 independent distributor customers.