Reece Group
| Company type | Public |
|---|---|
| Industry | Plumbing, bathroom products, construction, civil works, irrigation, heating, air conditioning, refrigeration |
| Founded | 1920 |
| Founder | Harold Joseph Reece |
| Headquarters | Australia |
Area served | Australia, United States |
Key people | Peter Wilson (CEO), Alan Wilson (Executive Chairman) |
| Products | Plumbing and bathroom products |
| Owner | Wilson Family (70%) |
Number of employees | 8000 |
Reece Limited is a publicly traded Australian corporation recognized as the country's foremost distributor of plumbing and bathroom products.
Established in 1920, Reece serves multiple industries including plumbing, bathroom fixtures, construction, civil works, irrigation, heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration. The organization employs approximately 8,000 staff members and operates 800 locations, providing access to more than 300,000 product lines.
Ownership of Reece is predominantly held by the Wilson Family, who possess a 70% stake.
History
The enterprise began in 1920 when Harold Joseph Reece started vending plumbing supplies directly from a vehicle before inaugurating the initial HJ Reece retail outlet in Caulfield. Les Wilson joined the company's board in 1958 and progressively increased his shareholding. By July 1969, the Wilson family had achieved majority control of the business. Alan Wilson, Les’s son and founder of Austral Hardware, took on the role of CEO in 1970 and subsequently orchestrated the merger between the two firms. Alan transitioned to executive chairman in 2008, with his son Peter Wilson succeeding him as CEO.
In May 2018, Reece entered the international market by acquiring U.S.-based competitor MORSCO for $1.9 billion.