Reddi Industries always ready to expand

Wichita-based Reddi Industries has made a habit of acquiring small companies with established local brands.

The most recent acquisition for the broad-based home and commercial services company came in December in the form of A Good Plumber, which had operated out of Derby until its former owner decided to retire.

Zack Steven, who owns Reddi with his brother, Tommy Steven, said retiring business owners have represented a fertile merger market.

“There are a lot of baby boomers who have built businesses and are now ready to retire,” Zack Steven said. “Most of our acquisitions have been where an owner is looking to go into retirement.

“We think there will continue to be some opportunity there.”

As far as the services it provides, it might be useful to list what services it doesn’t provide. Grown from Reddi Root’r – the company’s plumbing arm that has been in existence for close to a half century – Reddi Industries does everything from lawn care and electrical work to wastewater disposal and garage door repair.

Just in the past six months, the company took over Aero Fence and Bob’s Door Company, both of Wichita, along with A Good Plumber.

Reddi also recently expanded into the Oklahoma City and Tulsa areas and has offices in both markets.

Reddi employs about 100 people, though that number could grow as the company continues to add services, Zack Steven said.

“Expanding is a way that we can add to our customer base, and also maybe get some good employees,” he said.

“All these companies we bought had been around for a long time. Their phones ring, so it’s an instant added revenue stream.

“Especially in markets like Oklahoma City or Tulsa, where it would be much harder to go there and start from scratch. When you can buy an existing company, it gives you a head start.”

Last year, Reddi bought Raby Plumbing out of the Tulsa area. Reddi had tried to start a plumbing operation in Tulsa previously, but Zack Steven, 37, said taking over the existing Raby brand was much easier.

“That jump-started things and made us start to look at acquiring more companies,” he said.

A native Wichitan, Zack Steven said the company will soon have to find a new headquarters because of the Kansas Department of Transportation’s I-235 highway and bridge project. The company moved into its current location – formerly a Mel Hambelton Ford dealership – in 2007.

KDOT is scheduled to begin work on the project next year.

“We may end up moving to Park City or Kechi,” Zack Steven said. “With the number of vehicles we have, it’s important to be in town, but it’s been hard to find something to replace what we have.”

This story was originally published March 23, 2016 at 3:25 PM with the headline "Reddi Industries always ready to expand."