What Does Grainger Do?

Total employees20891
HeadquartersLake Forest
Founded1927

W.W. Grainger, Inc. is a leading broad line distributor with operations primarily in North America, Japan, and the United Kingdom. It achieves its unique value proposition through a high-touch sales and service model and a high-performance digital experience. With a vast assortment of MRO products, services, and solutions, Grainger helps businesses and institutions save time and money as they keep their facilities running and their people safe. The company is known for its extensive catalog, robust supply chain, and focus on e-commerce.

Where Is Grainger's Headquarters?

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*Images sourced via web search. Rights belong to original owners

HQ Function

The headquarters serves as the central hub for corporate strategy, executive leadership, global operations management, finance, marketing, human resources, legal, and technology development, driving the company's overall direction and supporting its worldwide branches and distribution centers.

Notable Features:

The Lake Forest campus is a modern facility designed with employee well-being and collaboration in mind, featuring contemporary architecture, landscaped grounds, and amenities. It often incorporates sustainable building practices and advanced technology infrastructure.

Work Culture:

The work culture at Grainger's headquarters is typically described as professional, collaborative, and customer-centric, with a strong emphasis on 'The Grainger Edge' principles: Start With The Customer, Act With Intent, Compete To Win, Make A Difference, and Do The Right Thing. There's a focus on continuous improvement, innovation, and employee development.

HQ Significance:

As the nerve center for a Fortune 500 company, the headquarters directs Grainger's extensive North American operations and its global strategic initiatives. It houses key decision-makers and critical support functions that underpin its vast distribution network, e-commerce platforms, and customer service excellence.

Values Reflected in HQ: The headquarters' design, operations, and employee programs aim to reflect Grainger's core values, including customer obsession, integrity, teamwork, innovation, and making a difference. The emphasis is on creating an efficient, supportive, and forward-thinking atmosphere that enables employees to serve customers effectively.

Location:

W.W. Grainger supports a wide array of functions globally, including product sourcing and supply chain management, international sales and distribution (primarily in North America, Japan through its MonotaRO business, and the United Kingdom via its Cromwell Group), e-commerce platform development and maintenance, customer service operations, and strategic market development. Its global network ensures businesses have access to essential MRO products and services to keep their operations running smoothly and safely.

Street Address:

100 Grainger Parkway

City:

Lake Forest

State/Province:

Illinois

Country:

USA

Where Else Does Grainger Operate Around the World?

Chicago, Illinois/USA

Address: 500 W Madison St, Chicago, IL 60661

Serves as a key urban satellite to the Lake Forest headquarters, focusing on attracting top tech talent from Chicago's diverse pool and fostering innovation in digital capabilities crucial for Grainger's market leadership.

Leicester, England/United Kingdom

Address: Chartwell Drive, Wigston, Leicester, LE18 2FS, UK

Manages Grainger's strategic presence in the UK market through the Cromwell brand, providing localized MRO solutions and leveraging Grainger's global sourcing and supply chain expertise for businesses across the United Kingdom.

Thornhill, Ontario/Canada

Address: 123 Commerce Valley Dr E, Thornhill, ON L3T 7W8, Canada

Serves as the central command for Grainger's operations in Canada, tailoring products and services to meet the specific needs of Canadian industrial, commercial, and institutional customers.

Buying Intent Signals for Grainger

Highperformr Signals uncover buying intent and give you clear insights to target the right accounts at the right time — helping your sales, marketing, and GTM teams close more deals, faster.

Notable news
Hiring actively
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
*Example signal, not calculated in real time

Who's Leading Grainger? Meet the Executive Team

As of April 2025, Grainger' leadership includes:

D.G. Macpherson - Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Deidra (Dee) Merriweather - Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Paige K. Robbins - Senior Vice President and President, Grainger Business Unit
Jonny LeRoy - Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer
Kathleen S. Carroll - Senior Vice President and Chief People Officer
Nancy L. Berardinelli-Krantz - Senior Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary

Who's Investing in Grainger?

Grainger has been backed by several prominent investors over the years, including:

The Vanguard Group, Inc.
BlackRock, Inc.
State Street Corporation
Capital World Investors
J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc.

What Leadership Changes Has Grainger Seen Recently?

Hire1
Exits1

Over the past year, W.W. Grainger has focused on strengthening its leadership team, notably with the appointment of a new Chief People Officer to drive human capital strategy, while also managing planned retirements within its executive ranks.

Departures

Matt Fortin, Matt Fortin announced his plan to retire from W.W. Grainger in late 2024, following a transition period after serving as SVP and CHRO.

New Appointments:

Kathleen S. Carroll, Kathleen S. Carroll joined W.W. Grainger as Senior Vice President and Chief People Officer, succeeding Matt Fortin who announced his retirement.

What Technology (Tech Stack) Is Used byGrainger?

Discover the tools Grainger uses. Highperformr reveals the technologies powering your target accounts — helping your sales, marketing, and GTM teams prioritize smarter and close faster.

Grainger Email Formats and Examples

W.W. Grainger primarily utilizes an email format combining the employee's last name and first initial. This is a common structure in large corporations for professional communication.

last.firstinitial@grainger.com

Format

smith.j@grainger.com

Example

85%

Success rate

What's the Latest News About Grainger?

W.W. Grainger Investor RelationsApril 25, 2024

W.W. Grainger Inc. Reports Results For The First Quarter 2024

W.W. Grainger announced its financial results for the first quarter of 2024, reporting sales of $4.2 billion, an increase of 3.5% (or 4.7% on a daily, constant currency basis) compared to the first quarter of 2023. The company highlighted performance in its High-Touch Solutions N.A. and Endless Assortment segments and reaffirmed its full-year 2024 guidance....more

W.W. Grainger Investor RelationsFebruary 1, 2024

Grainger Announces New Senior Vice President and Chief People Officer

W.W. Grainger announced that Kathleen S. Carroll will join the company as Senior Vice President and Chief People Officer, effective February 26, 2024. She succeeds Matt Fortin, who announced his intention to retire from Grainger in late 2024....more

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