About Us

Welcome to the Claflin Company

We hope you enjoy learning about Claflin by reading the informal history provided below. The Claflin  Co. and its affiliates Claflin Equipment and Service Co (www.claflinequip.com), and Claflin Contract Furniture Division (www.claflin-cf.com) are dedicated to carrying on our long tradition of serving our clients in the healthcare marketplace.  We will continue to provide a strong focus for the future with our ongoing research into new products and services to improve the quality and efficiency of the healthcare supply chain.

The History of Claflin

Under the guidance and directorship of the Claflins, the company grew rapidly and became, in 1886, the leading retail druggist and apothecary firm in the New England states.  The company was an importer and jobber of everything needed by a druggist or chemist.  At the time it created and manufactured many of its own pharmaceutical formulas, and employed 20 full time pharmacists.  Claflin also sold many sundry items and fancy toiletries and perfumes.  

Even in those early days, the Claflin name stood for innovation.  The Claflins expanded the company to provide chemicals, acids and other supplies for the rapidly expanding jewelry industry.  By the 1900’s the Claflin Company also had the exclusive rights to distribute Dupont Paints for New England.  During these growth years the company now occupied 62-72 South Main Street.

In 1904 the company was incorporated as the George L. Claflin Company.  Since 1873 the company had doubled its warehousing space and increased its business three fold.  Besides distributing a complete line of drugs, chemicals, patent medicines, surgical equipment and instruments, and jewelers' supplies, the company expanded to manufacture fluid extracts, tinctures, and compressed tablets as well as distribute laboratory supplies.

As the years went by Claflin began to lose some of the exclusivity of the lines that they distributed.  In 1930, with the competition increasing and the company seeking to increase their retail market, the company paid $200,000 for warehouse and retail space at 150-160 Dorrance Street.  The move proved untimely as the onset of the Great Depression took its toll on the company as it did many others in that dark economic era.  The Company was force to close briefly in 1940. After reorganizing, the George L. Claflin Company reopened in a new location at 40 Mathewson Street, Providence.  Dr. Albert W. Claflin and three young  associates headed the new business venture.  They were moderately successful and stayed in the 15,000 square foot facility for 19 years.

By 1959 the company employed some 22 employees and was again enjoying growing sales.   The company had a Board of Directors headed by George H. Duggan, President; Pasquale Faruolo, VP-Treasurer and Registered Pharmacist; William J. Rinaldi, Secretary, Asst. Treasurer, and Office Manager; Kirk Smith, Attorney; and Pasquale Valone, Sales Manager.  The old Mathewson Street facility was to be razed by the city, so the company relocated to the former Nicholson File building at 1 Acorn Street, Providence, occupying some 17,000 square feet of warehouse, office and retail space. 

As retirement age for its principals neared, the Board of Directors sold the company in June 1976 to its present owners - the Almon Company.  Under the guidance of President and CE0, Ted Almon, the company in a matter of 5 years outgrew the Acorn Street location.  In November of 1981 the company once again relocated to 1070 Willett Avenue in East Providence, RI. 

With the increased warehouse space the company now had a facility to properly store and ship goods of its ever-expanding business.  In December of 1987, the company took an aggressive step by purchasing the medical division of the former Providence Wholesale Drug Co, Pilgrim Medical Supply.  With the increase of close to $10 million in sales the company  spread its sales territory to all of RI, southeastern MA, eastern Connecticut and Boston.  With the Pilgrim acquisition came membership in the industry’s premier cooperative buying group, ABCO.  The ABCO program provided Claflin with enhanced purchasing power and a broad, high quality private label offering.

Ted Almon realized that acquisitions alone could not sustain the Company’s growth plans, and focused the young management team on innovative service products aimed at reducing their customers’ total acquisition costs. .  In 1986 he proposed the idea of a Just-in-Time (JIT) inventory system to Women & Infants Hospital which was in the process of constructing an entirely new facility.  The innovative application of a business method well proven in other industries to the conservative hospital marketplace was dramatically successful.  Not only did the hospital save considerably on the construction of its new facility, but the technique proved highly efficient and cost effective in actual practice.  Today the concept of stockless materials management is practiced in over 600 of the nations hospitals and represents about 60% of Claflin’s sales as the firm has clearly established a core competence in the technique. 

In 1996 Claflin formed a working agreement with Metropolitan Supply Company of Cambridge, MA, which culminated the following year in the purchase of certain assets of Metropolitan, and its business was absorbed into the Claflin Company in February '97. 

Once again with an increase in sales and JIT accounts, the East Providence and Woburn Ma. locations were no longer adequate.   In July of 1998 the company moved its warehouse to Airport Business Center, 455 Warwick Industrial Drive, Warwick, RI., and consolidated its headquarters there in  2001. 

Today The Claflin Co. is recognized as one of the medical distribution industry’s leading independent firms with an exceptional reputation for innovative service programs and a dedicated team of associates focused on the needs of the customer.  The entire Claflin family looks forward to working with you.  Our relationship is important and we are committed to earning your trust as well as your business for many years to come.