Chicago-based Grainger announced it will close 25 branches in the U.S. before year-end at its Annual Analyst Meeting.
The distributor also forecast its sales for the fourth quarter 2011 and for 2012. For the 2011 fourth quarter, Grainger expects sales to grow 12 percent to 13 percent. For the full year 2011, the distributor expects growth of 11 percent to 12 percent.