In this weekly feature, Plumbing Group Chief Editors Nicole Krawcke and Natalie Forster highlight the industry’s latest news stories.

To demonstrate just how popular these outdoor home additions have become, Saniflo USA explored the internet, surveying search and social media metrics. The company found that the outdoor kitchen trend inspires over 49,500 monthly Google searches of the keyword 'outdoor kitchen' in the United States alone. In addition, 558,000 posts use #outdoorkitchen on Instagram. Outdoor bathroom receives 2,900 monthly Google searches in the United States, and 11,000 posts use #outdoorkitchen on Instagram.

His Taco career path led to his most recent position as senior vice president, North American OEM Sales. He was loved by Taco employees and his customers as much as he loved them.

The company’s newest BRG is VALOR, which stands for Veterans and Allies Leading Organization Results, and was launched last year. The group is comprised of more than 800 associates who are former military service members, active-duty service members, military spouses and partners, and allies.

As always, to hear first-hand from reps on the state of the market, challenges and the evolving role of manufacturers’ reps, Supply House Times held its annual Rep Council roundtable discussion where five engaged AIM/R members gather to discuss the hot-topics.

The ASA Advocacy team has been busy over the last quarter representing ASA membership. In addition, through our partnership with HARDI, we also represented HARDI members in codes and standards activities.  The following provides updates on those activities.

Prior to 2020, the majority of everyday consumers didn’t think much about the global supply chain; some may not have even understood what that meant or at all how it works. Thanks to nearly three years of severe disruption, post-pandemic factors such as spiked product demand and nationwide media coverage, supply chain is now a topic of conversation that will come up at nearly any dinner table.  

The MDCs, located outside of Denver, in Aurora, Colorado and outside Phoenix in Chandler, Arizona, house the innovative technology running a collection of “robots” that carry out tasks within a physical grid.

Purchases by member companies from AD suppliers are up 27% to $15.2 billion. Net distributions to AD members increased by 38% to $924.5 million.