BradyPLUS, a provider of janitorial and sanitation (jansan), foodservice, and industrial packaging products and solutions, and Imperial Dade, a leading distributor of foodservice, jansan, and industrial packaging products and solutions, announced on Monday the two companies plan to unite. Terms of the merger were not disclosed.

The merger brings together two organizations committed to delivering exceptional customer value and a common culture rooted in the legacy of family-owned businesses. The combined organization will be able to serve more customers with a broader portfolio of products and services.

“This transformational partnership will expand our geographic reach and significantly enhance our ability to serve our customers,” said Ken Sweder, BradyPLUS chairman and CEO. “Imperial Dade is a fantastic business with a talented team and leadership that shares our core values. We are both passionate about delivering the best for our customers. Together, we’ll be more agile, more connected to customer needs, and better equipped to provide solutions to more customers across North America.”

“This is an exciting step for both organizations,” said Jason Tillis, Imperial Dade CEO. “We’re combining two like-minded teams who put the customer first and share a commitment to building something special for the long term. I’m confident this partnership will create new opportunities for our people, our customers, and our suppliers.”

The merger is expected to close in the coming months, subject to regulatory approval and customary closing conditions. Until then, the two companies will continue to operate independently.

On Friday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) headquarters in Atlanta came under fire from a shooter at adjacent Emory University. One first responder, DeKalb County Police Officer David Rose, was killed. At least four CDC buildings were hit, CDC Director Susan Monarez said on X.

CNN reported that the shooting began slightly before 5 p.m. at the Emory Point CVS drugstore, directly across from the main entrance to the CDC. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation identified Patrick Joseph White, 30, a resident of the Atlanta suburb Kennesaw, as the shooter. The gunman was found dead on the second floor of the CVS store. 

The investigation into what led to the shooting is ongoing, but sources told CNN the shooter may have targeted the CDC over personal health concerns he blamed on the Covid-19 vaccine. On X, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime critic of COVID-19 vaccinations with a history of spreading vaccine misinformation said:

“We are deeply saddened by the tragic shooting at CDC’s Atlanta campus that took the life of officer David Rose. We stand with his wife and three children and the entire CDC family.

We know how shaken our public health colleagues feel today. No one should face violence while working to protect the health of others.

We are actively supporting CDC staff on the ground and across the agency. Public health workers show up every day with purpose — even in moments of grief and uncertainty.

We honor their service. We stand with them. And we remain united in our mission to protect and improve the health of every American.”