Quality King's purchasing power benefits chains

Chain Drug Review, June 9, 2003

RONKONKOMA, N.Y. -- Quality King Distributors Inc. has quietly become one of the leading distributors in the United States for health and beauty aids, designer fragrances and professional hair care products.

Founded in 1960 by Bernard Nussdorf and his wife, Ruth, Quality King has grown from a small operation in Queens, N.Y., to become the 67th-largest privately held company in the country, according to the 2002 ranking of the largest private businesses in Forbes magazine.

Generating some $2.5 billion in annual sales and providing employment for about 1,400 individuals, the company nevertheless remains a family-owned business, led by chief executive officer Glenn Nussdorf.

Quality King distributes pharmaceuticals, health and beauty care products, professional hair care items and fragrances to a roster of clients that includes large drug chains, grocery distributors, supermarket chains, wholesale clubs and other mass market retailers located throughout the United States.

The company is organized into four operating units--pharmaceutical, health and beauty care, fragrance and pro hair care divisions--and all four do business with the chain drug industry.

Quality King's fragrance division consists of three operating units. Five Star Fragrance Co. owns, licenses and manufactures a portfolio of designer brands, including Bijan, Bill Blass, Michael Jordan, Royal Copenhagen and more.

Another unit markets and provides direct distribution of about a dozen designer scents, and the third unit, Model Imperial, operates leased fragrance departments for leading retail chains, including Longs Drug Stores and Snyders Drug Stores/Drug Emporium.

"Quality King has become a leader by offering customers a large variety of fragrance and health. and beauty care products at very competitive price points," remarks Ray Piergiorgi, the fragrance division's director of operations. "Retailers that have opened up their buying to more than one supplier have benefited greatly from Quality King's purchasing power."

Looking ahead, Piergiorgi expects continued growth and success to result for the company by sticking to the strategy that has worked so effectively for more than 40 years.

"Quality King will continue to grow by focusing on the addition of new brands to our product lineup, either through acquisition or through strategic alliances with manufacturers," he comments. "We also will work to develop custom programs for key retailers as a way of offering special value and uniqueness for them."

Quality King Distributors Inc.

1095 Long Island Ave.

Deer Park, N.Y. 11729

Key contact: Ray Piergiorgi, Director of Operations for the Fragrance Division

Web site: qualityking.com

Phone: (631) 737-5555

Fax: (631) 254-9340

Primary business:

GENERAL MERCHANDISE/SERVICES

Distributor of pharmaceuticals, fragrances, health and beauty care, and professional hair care products

Marketplace booth: #4541