Zep Inc. Launches “Zep Professional” Product Line, Announces Distribution Alignment

Zep Inc. recently announced the launch of its new Zep Professional product line focusing on the industrial distribution market and revealed its alignment with distributors that serve targeted market segments.

Zep Professional

A few months ago, Zep Inc. announced its goal of obtaining 10 to 15% of its revenue from sales of product through industrial distributors.

By focusing on the voice of the customer, it became clear that nearly 40% of the U.S. customer base prefers the services that industrial distributors have to offer, commented John K. Morgan, chairman, president, and CEO.We are committed to developing products and services desired by customers and making them available in ways most appropriate for the customer.

The strategy began earlier this year with market studies, a new product strategy, and the creation of the Zep Professional brand. These new products will be marketed with the support of field training, logistics, customer service, marketing, toll free technical support, and electronic ordering tools to enable exclusive distributors ready access to the services of the newly formed Zep Professional organization.

Chemists and segment specialists will also be available to Zep Professional authorized distributors serving a wide range of markets, including:

  • Manufacturing
  • Hospitality
  • Government
  • Health Care
  • Schools
  • Food Service

The initial Zep Professional products are professional strength formulations developed for a variety of applications, including:

  • Bathroom Care
  • Disinfectants
  • Drain Care
  • Floor Care
  • General Purpose Cleaners
  • Grounds & Building Maintenance
  • Industrial Degreasers
  • Industrial Hand Care
  • Lubricants & Penetrants
  • Odor Control

I am very pleased with the progress William A. (Bill) Holl, our chief operating officer, and the entire distribution team under Philip Snellens leadership have achieved in such a short time frame, Morgan continued. With only a few months in the planning and development stage, we began pilot production of our Zep Professional product line in late August. It was a great team effort, and it was exciting to see the new product line flowing through our factories.

Zep Inc. Industrial Distributor Partners

Zep is also pleased to announce that it has entered into agreements with a select group of distributor partners focusing on strategic market segments to the company. Distribution agreements have been reached with W.W. Grainger, Inc.; Lab Safety Supply Inc.; Graybar Electric Company, Inc.; R3 Reliable Redistribution Resource, a division of Bunzl North America; and VWR International, LLC to offer the new Zep Professional product line to their customers. A distribution agreement has also been reached with SP Richards to distribute select Zep Commercial products. These new partners, along with Zeps existing partner, HD Supply, will expand the companys customer reach in the industrial maintenance, electrical, food service, jan-san, and broad line scientific market industries.

Barry Hentz, senior vice president, redistribution, of R3 Reliable Redistribution Resource, says, Zep is a well established, highly recognized brand that offers R3 Reliable Redistribution Resource a unique opportunity to further penetrate and grow its core customer base.

The entire team at Zep Inc. is excited about the opportunity to support these new distributor partners to the benefit of our customers, commented Holl.

The distributors we have partnered with to gain access to our target markets are some of the finest in the world, added Morgan. We are proud to have our brands associated with distributors with such fine reputations. While we do not expect an immediately significant impact on sales volumes, we are very optimistic about the long term benefit these agreements will have for our business and our customers.