As part of Purchasing's ongoing strategy to bring more value to purchasing professionals, this month we rank the Top 100 Chemical Distributors in North America. As you can read on page 32C11, chemical distributors continue to implement growth and service improvement strategies developed in recent years. Mergers and acquisitions are a hot topic as they have led to several changes in distribution company names and corporate makeups. This year, look for more consolidation as distributors strive to increase their capabilities and service offerings to buyers.

Another hot trend in chemicals distribution is the extent to which distributors have embraced electronic transaction formats. According to data from Purchasing's survey, nearly one-third of respondents say they have made some formal arrangement to sell chemicals through a third-party online chemical marketplace. In addition, almost a quarter of distributors have implemented online purchasing programs with resources dedicated to buying raw materials through electronic channels.