A former Utah truck driver founded Bonneville Industrial Supply Co (BISCO) and turned entrepreneur, LaVar Thacker, in 1964. Starting as a small industrial supply organization in eastern Idaho, BISCO steadily grew due to dedicated work, expanding its reach and reputation for high-quality industrial equipment and unrivaled customer service across states.
Today, after 60 years, BISCO operates from a 27,000-square-foot structure in Idaho Falls, with additional branches in Pocatello, Soda Springs, and Boise. Initially focused on industrial supply, BISCO offers a diverse range of products, from industrial fasteners to safety equipment. Despite market fluctuations and fierce competition, BISCO’s commitment to customer satisfaction has ensured its continual growth and success.
Garrett Thacker, LaVar’s grandson and BISCO’s Vice President, maintains the company’s resilience and steadfast values while focusing on future growth, innovation, and prosperity.
BISCO’s growth: An industrial triumph
He understands that the key to longevity and success hinges on evolution, so he continually pushes for innovation within BISCO’s core principles. His leadership embodies the spirit that has carried BISCO through 60 memorable years and inspires future confidence in the company.
LaVar’s entrepreneurial journey was greatly influenced by relationships he developed during his time at Herrick Industrial Supply, notably Frank Wilson, a pipeline supplier in Idaho Falls. Despite losing his parents as a high school student, LaVar’s inherent business understanding, resilience, and determination led him to establish the successful enterprise that BISCO is now.
Once a small team led by LaVar and his brother Neal, BISCO now employs 15 to 25 specialists across multiple offices. It continually updates its product offerings to meet the evolving industrial market needs. Despite office renovations and the COVID-19 pandemic, BISCO has remarkably managed to maintain its operations and ensure better tool accessibility for its clients.
