EMCO Corporation is one of Canada’s largest integrated distributors of plumbing, waterworks, industrial and HVAC products for the construction industry. For more than a century, their brand has been a fixture in North America’s plumbing supply landscape. Founded in 1906 in London, Ontario as Empire Manufacturing, the company has evolved from a single-location operation into the largest plumbing wholesaler in Canada, with a coast-to-coast presence and a network numbering in the hundreds of locations. Today, Emco operates under a decentralized model that treats each location as a Profit Centre (PC). Each PC operates as an entrepreneurial business with the freedom to respond to the unique needs of their market, while being backed by national buying power, strong supplier partnerships, and shared best practices. “No two PCs are the same, but we’re all strongly connected and we’re in it to help each other win,” explains Joshua Morrison, profit centre manager. “And the way we win is through our world class service and ability to connect with customers and respond to their needs.” “We’re expected to connect with and listen to our market, and respond accordingly based on their needs,” he adds. “This is where our decentralized model shines, as we don’t all have to be carrying the same product, going after the same customers, or focusing on the same bullet points – we can think outside the box, be entrepreneurial, and go after the unique opportunities that exist in our respective space.” For example, Emco Stratford focuses heavily on the residential sector, as there are a lot of people settling in their region. That means there’s a great demand for both new home builds and Photo: Meghan Landers FEBRUARY 2026
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