John Surane, the company’s executive vice president and chief growth officer, attributes the brand's resilience to the intimate connection between local retailers and their communities. This strategy of decentralized ownership has allowed the cooperative to add over 1,100 stores to its network in the last six years alone. The firm currently supports nearly 5,300 outlets across all 50 states.
In section Releases
Ace Hardware Hits 100-Store Expansion Milestone for 2026
With the ribbon cut on its 100th new location this year, Ace Hardware remains on a steady trajectory toward opening more than 170 stores by December. The cooperative’s aggressive footprint growth relies on a mix of independent conversions, existing owner expansions, and new entrepreneurs entering the local retail market.
Industry analysts continue to validate this model, with Entrepreneur magazine ranking Ace as the top franchise in the hardware category for 2026. The brand also secured the fourth position on the publication's annual Franchise 500 list. To sustain this momentum, the Oak Brook-based corporation is pouring capital into its supply chain infrastructure and retail support programs, ensuring that individual owners can maintain a competitive edge against larger national chains.
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