Betty Dillard
Walden’s Distributing Inc., a Fort Worth fixture since 1953, has been acquired by Rugby Architectural Building Products of Concord, N.H., for an undisclosed amount. The acquisition marks Rugby’s 20th distribution center across the country and the second location serving the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Walden’s was started by cabinetmaker Marion Walden and his wife Senorita. The business evolved into a wholesale distributor of laminates, hardware, tools, equipment and supplies to the woodworking and cabinetmaking industries, becoming a preferred distributor of Wilsonart laminates. At the time of the sale, Walden’s was owned by the late founder’s daughters, Kriszan Thomas and Karen Dye. Walden’s owners retained Fort Worth merger and acquisition firm Kasper & Associates. Managing Partner Layne Kasper acted as the owners’ exclusive representative by initiating, structuring and negotiating terms of the transaction with Zach Coopersmith, partner with Leading Ridge Capital Partners, the Washington D.C.-New York private investment firm that owns Rugby. Â