Hajoca adds Gustave A. Larson to expand HVAC business

Hajoca is expanding its HVAC business through a majority-ownership partnership with the Larson family, bringing distributors Gustave A. Larson (Larson) and Applied Product Solutions (APS) under its umbrella while retaining their current leadership.

Announced on Jan. 5, the partnership followed Hajoca’s May 2022 launch of a national HVAC division. Larson and APS will remain a separate, combined entity under the Lafayette Hill, Pennsylvania-based distributor of plumbing, HVAC and industrial supplies.

The partnership accelerates Hajoca’s stated strategy to become a leader in the HVAC market, according to a news release, while providing Larson a platform to expand its super-regional footprint.

A broader HVAC presence

Based in Pewaukee, Wisconsin, Larson distributes HVACR equipment, parts and supplies throughout the U.S. midwest, plains and mountain states. Family-owned and operated since 1936, it has approximately 500 employees across 54 locations in 20 states.

Those operations include APS, an HVAC distributor and services provider with Utah locations in Salt Lake City and St. George. The Larson companies together represent more than 450 manufacturers.

Hajoca’s national HVAC division is led by Marshall Maedgen, a 22-year company veteran. At the division’s launch, Maedgen outlined how the company intended to build on its existing operations.

"We will leverage our HVAC success in Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, and Colorado. These profit centers will be the foundation for building a strong and broad national presence and channel", Maedgen said in that launch announcement.

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Leadership and local relationships

Hajoca traces its roots to 1858 and has over 450 locations operating under more than 50 different regionally-established trade names. It is part of Blackfriars Corporation, whose operating model emphasizes independent, decentralized units with strong leadership and local customer relationships.

The Larson partnership fits that approach, with the distributors continuing under their existing leadership.

"Larson has built a strong reputation for setting a new standard in supporting their customers and people. I love their focus on making it easy by making it personal", Hajoca CEO Rick Fantham said. "I admire the Larson way of values-based leadership and being driven to provide impactful business solutions. I am energized by the opportunity to work with Andrew and Scott and their teams to build on their legacy and support their vision of growth and opportunity."

For Larson, the agreement provides opportunities for both organic growth and the addition of other HVAC/R businesses.

"We couldn’t be more excited to join the Hajoca team", added Scott Larson, Gustave A. Larson President. "Their core values of fairness & caring, trust & respect, generous listening and straight talk match up perfectly with our LARSON values. The combination of the two organizations ensures the Larson legacy as a family business and will allow us to grow and serve our customers into the future. We are excited by the possibilities for organic growth as well as being a welcoming home for HVAC/R owners and companies that share our values to join us."

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