The Trenton-based company has been acquired by Franklin Electric of Moorestown.
TRENTON -- Griffith Electric, the Trenton company that once operated from the iconic flatiron building at South Broad and Second streets, has been acquired by Franklin Electric of Moorestown, the companies announced Tuesday.
Griffith celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2013 and currently operates from a 75,000 square-foot warehouse across from the flatiron building, and has locations in Robbinsville, Lumberton, Bridgewater and Langhorne, Pa.
Bill Goodwin, president of Griffith Electric, in this 2013 file photo. The companies said in a statement they are similar in their history and culture, and both are family-owned and established.
Moving forward as one company will enable them to grow and evolve in the changing electrical supply industry in the Philadelphia and New Jersey markets, the statement said.
Once fully merged, Franklin plans to increase the number of its associates and locations, enhance its expertise and exposure in profitable counter business, and diversify markets to include state and institutional business and small contractors, the statement said.
"The successful integration of both companies will allow us to better serve our combined customer base and expand our geographic footprint further into central and northern New Jersey," said Bill Walker, president and CEO of Franklin Electric.
"This is the coming together of two great companies with similar cultures," Griffith President Bill Goodwin said in the statement. "and we very much look forward to being a part of Franklin Electric."
"Together our companies represent over 170 years of experience in the electrical industry," Goodwin said.
Franklin was founded in 1920 by William Walker Sr. and Bill Walker represents the third generation to run and own the company.
Griffith Electric was founded in 1938 by the late Bill and Meta Griffith.
Meta Griffith in front of her home in this 2010 photo with a duplicate of the street sign of the street named for her in Trenton.Bill Griffith started the company in 1938 after he lost his position as a salesman at another Trenton electric supply company. Meta Griffith, who worked as a secretary at a rival company, followed her husband and they laid the roots for the company's growth, company officials have said.
When Bill died in 1971, Meta took over, making her name as a businesswoman in a male-dominated field and a leader in the local business community, the company said in 2013 at an anniversary celebration.
Meta Griffith passed away in 2010 at the age of 101.
Goodwin was named as the successor in 2003, taking over day-to-day operations.
Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@kevintshea. Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook.