The Portland Group began in 1930, when Irving “Speed” Rose asked his good friend Benjamin Fox to help him expand his small hardware store on Portland Street in Boston. Soon, it became a true family business: Benjamin brought his three sons, Dan, Perry, and Paul, into the company, while Speed welcomed his three brothers, Harry, Al, and Jack, to help grow what would become one of New England’s leading wholesale distributors. As the company expanded through the decades, Howard Rose led the organization through a new era of growth, serving as President and CEO alongside his longtime business partner, Richard Fox. Together, they strengthened the company’s reputation for exceptional customer service, trusted partnerships, and a family-first culture that continues to define The Portland Group today.

In 2018, Mike Fox and Ben Rose assumed leadership of the company, proudly carrying forward the values established by the generations before them while continuing to invest in the future of the business.

Today, the third and fourth generations remain deeply involved in the company’s continued success. Samantha Rose plays a vital role in both purchasing and marketing for our wholesale warehouses and retail showrooms, ensuring our teams and customers have access to the necessary products, resources, and support. Alongside Samantha, other members of the Rose and Fox families continue to contribute across the organization, blending established values and traditions with fresh ideas and a forward-looking vision.

More than 95 years later, we’re still guided by the principles our parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents instilled in us—treating our employees like family and every customer like they were our own mothers. It’s a philosophy that has shaped our company since day one, and one we’re proud to carry forward for generations to come.