Research: Competitive Pressure in Distribution Persists, Intensifies Driven by Scale

Nearly all distributors surveyed in the 1Q26 MDM-Baird Industrial Distribution Survey said competitive pressure has either persisted or increased over the past three months. Respondents were more divided when asked what type of competition posed the most significant threat to their business, with concerns ranging from private equity-backed consolidation and national distributors to evolving eCommerce and manufacturer disintermediation. Among approximately 300 respondents — primarily distributors, along with manufacturers and suppliers — 51% said competitive pressure increased over the past…