Mahwah, N.J. – Sharp Electronics Marketing Company of America
(SEMCA) has consolidated distribution of its cooking and home-comfort lines down
to two distributors within the independent retail channel.
Philadelphia-based Almo, which currently carries Sharp’s Insight
line of steam, convection and built-in
and drawer-style microwave ovens in the Northeast, will expand its footprint
coast-to-coast, serving nearly every state outside of the Southeast.
That region will be covered by Columbia, S.C.-based Climatic, a
first-time Sharp distributor.
Both companies will also carry Sharp’s line of room air, air purifiers and
other home-comfort products.
Sharp said the move will provide state-of-the-art dealer-channel
support through strategically situated distribution centers, as well as cost
efficiencies and enhanced logistical support.
“Sharp is excited to align
with the industry’s two leading appliance distributors,” said Chris Hogan, sales
VP of Sharp’s health and environmental solutions group. “All Sharp dealers can now take advantage of
the strong sales and highly automated logistic capabilities offered by Almo and
Climatic.”
Almo, which also distributes Sharp A/V products, maintains 10
strategically located warehouses “to help keep their vendor and dealer base
competitive and well serviced,” Sharp said.
“With Sharp’s top-of-the-line products and our distribution
capabilities, this partnership is a win-win for the independent dealer channel,”
said Almo president/COO Warren Chaiken.
Added Gilly Bailey, COO of 75-year-old Climatic: “We are thrilled
to add Sharp to our list of highly acclaimed brands. Health and environmental
products [is] a rapidly growing segment of the market, and we are pleased that
our dealer base will have a full array of solutions available to their
customers.”
