GME Supply Acquires Commercial Supply Co.
The Missouri-based distributor is expanding across the Midwest by buying a Des Moines contractor-focused supplier.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Business Strategy
GME Supply, a Columbia, Missouri-based distributor of workplace safety gear and equipment, has acquired Commercial Supply Co., a Des Moines, Iowa-based distributor that primarily serves construction and industrial contractors. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Why it matters
The acquisition extends GME's reach across the Midwest and brings Commercial Supply's contractor relationships and specialty product lines into its distribution network. Its co-owners, Brad Lilienthal and Jason Curry, will join GME.
Business buyers make up 8% to 9% of GME's sales catalog-wide and about 20% in some categories, according to the company's figures. The deal's purchase price and resulting revenue were not disclosed.
The players
GME Supply
GME Supply is a Columbia, Missouri-based distributor of workplace safety gear and equipment that also owns Gearcor, a software company for uniform, PPE, and fall protection ordering.
Incline Equity Partners
Incline Equity Partners is a Pittsburgh-based private equity firm that bought GME Supply in 2023.
Ryan Keogh
Ryan Keogh is the chief executive of GME Supply, who has described the company as digital first.
The details
The deal adds cable-wrapping equipment and industrial textiles to GME's inventory and brings solar and wind contractors into the combined business. GME Supply is owned by Pittsburgh-based private equity firm Incline Equity Partners, which bought the company in 2023.
Timeline
2023: Incline Equity Partners acquired GME Supply.
- 2026-11-06
GME announced the acquisition of Commercial Supply Co.
Market Landscape
The acquisition follows a buy-and-build pattern in which private equity-backed industrial distributors add regional competitors to widen their geographic reach. It positions GME against other safety-supply distributors competing for contractor accounts in the Midwest.
Contractors buying from Commercial Supply Co. may first notice changes as their accounts migrate to GME's online ordering site and catalog. The deal is designed to feel seamless, but business buyers could shift to marketplaces such as Amazon Business if the transition is disruptive.
The takeaway
Business customers should review any changes to their account terms, ordering platform, or catalog after an acquisition. Keeping an eye on pricing and product availability during the transition can help avoid disruption.
Further reading
For broader context on deal-making tactics, see Business Strategy.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Digital Commerce 360.
