Koch Companies Acquires SOS, Doubling Down on Retail Logistics

MINNEAPOLIS & MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – January 12, 2026 – Koch Companies, a diversified transportation and logistics firm, has officially acquired Store Opening Solutions (SOS), a Murfreesboro-based specialist in retail inventory consolidation, from Marmon Holdings, Inc. The acquisition, announced today, marks a significant expansion of Koch's logistics capabilities and strategically coincides with the company's upcoming 50th anniversary.

This move doubles Koch's nationwide warehouse footprint to over three million square feet and positions its Koch Logistics division as a powerhouse in the specialized and demanding sector of retail supply chain management. The integration of SOS, a company with an estimated annual revenue of $313 million, is a clear signal of Koch's ambition to become an end-to-end solutions provider for some of the country's largest retailers.

A Strategic Move for Market Dominance

The acquisition is the culmination of a long-term strategic vision for Koch Companies, aimed at bolstering its service offerings across the supply chain. By bringing SOS into its fold, Koch is making a substantial investment in its fastest-growing division, Koch Logistics & Warehousing. This division, already one of the Midwest’s largest privately-owned third-party logistics (3PL) providers, gains not only physical space but also deep-seated expertise in a lucrative niche.

“Bringing SOS into the Koch Companies family represents a meaningful step in our long-term strategy to strengthen and expand our logistics, fulfillment, and trucking capabilities,” said Jeff Koch, Chief Operating Officer of Koch Companies, in a statement. “By investing in the people, infrastructure, and services that define both SOS and Koch, we’re positioning the business and our customers for long-term success.”

The immediate impact of the deal is a dramatic increase in physical infrastructure. The addition of SOS's facilities in Tennessee, Mississippi, and New Hampshire doubles Koch's warehouse capacity. This expanded network, which includes key hubs in Chicago and Corona, California, enhances the company's ability to offer a comprehensive "single source" solution for complex logistics projects, particularly those tailored for the retail sector's unique demands.

Tapping into Specialized Retail Expertise

While the expanded footprint is a major headline, the true strategic value lies in SOS's specialized knowledge. For decades, Store Opening Solutions has been a pioneer in managing the intricate logistics of new store openings, multi-store rollouts, and complex remodels. The company excels at coordinating the time-sensitive delivery of furniture, fixtures, and equipment (FF&E), ensuring everything arrives at a store site in a single, perfectly timed delivery. This service is critical for retailers, saving them significant time, resources, and capital by streamlining what is often a fragmented and chaotic process.

The integration is expected to be seamless, largely because this acquisition formalizes a partnership that has been active for a quarter of a century. Koch Logistics has maintained an operational team on-site at the SOS headquarters in Murfreesboro since 1999, collaborating to support major national retail brands on expansion and conversion projects.

“Koch Logistics has a 25-year history working alongside SOS, and we are extremely excited about what the future holds as we blend the best of both companies,” commented Darren Nelson, Vice President & General Manager of Koch Logistics and Warehousing. “Bringing both entities under the same umbrella, having a shared vision and strategy, will allow us to create synergies and value-added solutions for our clients.”

This pre-existing synergy means that the 97 employees of SOS are joining a familiar partner, minimizing operational disruption and allowing the combined entity to leverage its shared history for immediate value creation.

Navigating a Consolidating 3PL Landscape

Koch's acquisition of SOS does not exist in a vacuum. It reflects a broader trend of consolidation within the U.S. third-party logistics market, an industry valued at an estimated $217.62 billion in 2025 and projected to reach $261.75 billion by 2030. As e-commerce continues to surge and supply chains grow more complex, scale and specialization have become key differentiators.

The retail 3PL segment, in particular, is experiencing explosive growth, with a projected Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 12.5% from 2024 to 2035. While industry giants like C.H. Robinson, XPO Logistics, and DHL dominate the broader market, Koch's strategy appears focused on carving out an unassailable position in the high-value niche of retail project logistics. By integrating SOS, Koch is better equipped to compete by offering a level of specialized, white-glove service that larger, more generalized providers may struggle to replicate.

The divestiture from Marmon Holdings, a Berkshire Hathaway company, also fits a common pattern. Conglomerates like Marmon, which acquired SOS in 1998, frequently review and optimize their vast portfolios. Selling a business unit to a company where it represents a core strategic fit, as SOS does for Koch, can unlock greater value and growth potential for the divested entity.

Integration and Future Growth

With the acquisition finalized, Koch Companies is poised to accelerate its growth trajectory. The company has explicitly stated its intent to continue pursuing strategic acquisitions, with a particular focus on warehousing and fulfillment. This strategy is not new; it builds on previous moves, such as the 2021 acquisition of Logistics Edge, and underscores a deliberate plan to build a comprehensive, integrated logistics network through targeted M&A.

For retail clients of both companies, the merger promises an enhanced service offering. They now have access to a single partner capable of managing the entire lifecycle of a store development project, from warehousing and inventory management to complex, just-in-time on-site delivery. This integrated approach is designed to provide greater efficiency, cost savings, and reliability in a retail environment where speed and flawless execution are paramount.

As Koch Companies celebrates its 50th year, the acquisition of Store Opening Solutions is more than just a business transaction; it is a declaration of intent for the next chapter, one focused on deeper specialization and expanded dominance in the evolving world of supply chain logistics.