Bloomberg Talks Fastenal CEO Daniel Florness Talks Minnesota Unrest
Jan 26, 2026
Daniel Florness, CEO of Fastenal and longtime industrial-distribution leader. He discusses Minnesota CEOs calling for calm and leaders’ duty to de-escalate tension. He reviews mixed industrial signals, signs of localized strength, shifting sourcing away from China, rising nearshoring in North America, and how AI and data are improving supply visibility.
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CEO Unaware But Supportive Of Letter
- Dan Florness was not aware of the CEOs' open letter but would have signed it to call for de-escalation.
- He emphasized his company's distance from Minneapolis and the Twin Cities' tight-knit executive community.
Leaders Should Create Calm
- As a leader, Dan Florness advises creating calm and dialing down public heat during crises.
- He urges focus on practical outcomes rather than theatrical political posturing from both sides.
Growth From Market Share Not Macro Tailwinds
- Fastenal sees mixed macro signals: ISM PMI remained under 50 for most months, but company gained double-digit growth late in the year.
- That growth came mainly from taking market share, not broad economic tailwinds.