USA

E J Thomas, the Ohio-based supplier of consumables and other auxiliary products to the laundry and drycleaning industries, has reached an agreement with equipment distributor and service company M&L of Akron, Ohio to take over the part of its business that supplies these products.

The two companies announced the agreement, which is for an undisclosed sum, in September.

M&L has served customers with a full line of laundry and drycleaning supplies since 1937, but has now handed over this side of its business to focus on and grow its equipment sales and service operation.

EJ Thomas will continue to provide the supply business out of M&L’s Akron warehouse and will also serve customers in Western Pennsylvania from a warehouse in Glenshaw. As a result of this acquisition it will be expanding its sales and driver teams and its warehouse service.

Randy Zimmerman, president of EJ Thomas, said that there was strong cultural fit, with both companies being focussed on providing outstanding service to their customers, and building longstanding relationships with customers, employees and vendors.

Steve Michalec, president of M&L Supply said: "We feel that EJ Thomas is the right company to continue providing the high standard of service and value that our customers expected of us in the supply business."