Crawford Electric Supply Continues Expansion in 2009

Electrical distributor opens new branches in LA and TX

Dallas, Tex., February 17, 2009 – Crawford Electric Supply, a subsidiary of Sonepar USA, announced two new locations earlier this year.  The new locations are a result of Crawford’s continued expansion throughout the states of Louisiana and Texas.

Crawford’s growth within the New Orleans market has prompted the company to relocate its New Orleans branch to 200 L and A Road in Metairie, LA.  This announcement comes less than a year after Crawford opened its first branch in Louisiana.  Conveniently located off Airline Highway, the new building is over 60,000 square feet and less than 5 miles from downtown New Orleans.  The increase in space presents an opportunity to expand even further in the market, and allows Crawford to service a wide variety of customers, from large commercial developers to smaller private contractors.

"Our immediate success in this market over the past year is the result of hard work and a ‘whatever it takes’ approach,” said Crawford Electric Chief Executive Officer Craig Levering. “We look forward to providing unmatched service to our growing list of customers in the great state of Louisiana.”

Crawford also announced a new branch opening in Conroe, TX.  Just an hour north of Houston, the brand new facility is 25,000 square feet, and employs a staff of 8 people. 

The office and counter areas are equipped with energy-saving lighting controls, and efficient fluorescent lighting units are installed throughout the warehouse.  Located at 800 Old Montgomery Road, Conroe, TX 77301, the new branch opened its doors on February 2, 2008.  Dandy Kellum has been hired as branch manager, and will report to Jason Vaughn. 

"Crawford Electric has made great strides in expanding its footprint across the states of Texas and Louisiana,” said Levering.  “We’re looking forward to continuing our efforts in 2009 to ensure all of our customers know that Crawford Electric will do ‘whatever it takes.’”

About Crawford Electric Supply
Crawford Electric Supply, also known as CESCO, joined Sonepar USA in January 2007. Founded in 1986, Crawford has grown dramatically over the years. The company ranked 27th among the largest electrical and lighting distributors in the U.S. for 2006, by Electrical Wholesaling. Crawford is headquartered in Dallas, Texas with branches in Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio, College Station, Austin, New Braunfels and Conroe, Texas, and recently New Orleans, Louisiana.

About Sonepar USA
Sonepar USA is made up of the finest electrical supply distributors in the United States. The company has over 4,600 associates in 12 companies operating more than 253 branches in 35 states. In 2008, Sonepar USA achieved revenues of $3.3 billion pro forma. It is a member of the Sonepar group - the world's largest privately held electrical distributor. Worldwide, Sonepar employs over 34,000 employees, with 2,050 branch locations and estimated annual 2008 sales of $16 billion pro forma.