KANSAS CITY, Mo. — RJ Kool, a commercial laundry distributor with headquarters here, reports that it has purchased St. Paul, Minnesota-based BDS Laundry.
Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.
The sale of BDS includes its on-premises laundry and vended equipment businesses. The acquisition also includes the online parts business and service business.
BDS Laundry Management, a provider of route laundry services and equipment sales to multi-housing customers, is not included in the sale.
RJ Kool says the purchase of BDS expands its leadership position as the largest and most experienced commercial laundry distributor in the Midwest.
In addition to its existing sales and service operations in Kansas City, St. Louis, Springfield, Omaha and Tulsa, the company will begin serving customers in additional markets, including Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
“The purchase of BDS represents a major milestone in our company’s strategy to become the premier commercial laundry distributor in the United States,” says Bill Kimmel, co-owner of RJ Kool. “We are thrilled to expand our footprint and accelerate our growth.”
BDS employees will be retained, and the company will be rebranded as RJ Kool in the coming months.
David DeMarsh, the second-generation owner of BDS, will remain active in the business and serve as a consultant during the transition.
“We are excited to welcome BDS employees and customers to our company,” says Darren Harding, co-owner of RJ Kool.
“BDS has a long history of success and innovation in the industry, and we look forward to continuing this tradition.”
“Customers can rest assured knowing their existing relationships with BDS sales and service representatives will continue uninterrupted,” DeMarsh says.
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