Basis of Presentation

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Organization Consolidation And Presentation Of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Basis of Presentation

1. Basis of Presentation

The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements represent Essendant Inc. (“ESND”) with its wholly owned subsidiary Essendant Co. (“ECO”), and ECO’s subsidiaries (collectively, “Essendant” or the “Company”). The Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States and include the accounts of ESND and its subsidiaries. The Company operates in a single reportable segment as a leading national wholesale distributor of workplace items, with net sales of approximately $5.4 billion for the year ended December 31, 2016. The Company provides access to approximately 190,000 items on a national basis. These items include a broad spectrum of janitorial, foodservice and breakroom supplies, technology products, traditional office products, industrial supplies, cut sheet paper products, automotive products and office furniture. The Company sells its products through a national distribution network of 70 distribution centers to its approximately 29,000 reseller customers, who in turn sell directly to end-consumers. The Company’s customers include office and workplace dealers; facilities and maintenance distributors; technology, military, automotive aftermarket, national big-box retailers and healthcare and vertical suppliers; industrial distributors and internet retailers. Many resellers have online capabilities. The Company also operates as an internet retailer which sells direct to end consumers.