HH Global Makes Significant Leap In PPAI 100 Thanks To ‘Business Momentum’

The titans of this industry keep performing at a high level. As of late, that certainly hasn’t changed. But unlike other rankings, continued sales do not guarantee a branded merch firm will maintain its spot in the PPAI 100. The list is determined by a combination of factors beyond just revenue, so by its very nature, PPAI 100 is inherently dynamic. It cannot remain static.

• As a result, there is a new No. 2 distributor for the first time in the list’s history.
• HH Global (PPAI 769028, Platinum), a Chicago-based firm with an international presence, has made a significant leap in the rankings, jumping from No. 10 in 2025 to No. 2 this year.

“We’re incredibly proud to see HH Global recognized again in the PPAI 100, particularly in a ranking that takes a more holistic view of business performance,” says Louise Finlay, vice president of strategic sourcing, global branded merchandise at HH Global. “Moving even higher this year reflects not just the scale of our growth, but the consistency and quality behind it – from the strength of our client partnerships to the continued evolution of our offering, of which branded merchandise is core.”

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What Accounts For The Leap?

As noted above, the No. 2 spot wasn’t lost due to poor performance. In fact, HALO, the company that had held the spot since PPAI 100’s inception (this year listed at No. 3), earned a High Mark in Revenue (as well as in four other categories). And while HH Global also received a High Mark in Revenue, it is worth noting that HALO’s 2025 revenue did in fact exceed that of HH Global’s.

• HH Global received High Marks in Revenue, Growth, Industry Faith, Responsibility, Innovation and Online Presence.
• Of those categories, the one that most helped push HH Global seven spots forward in the rankings was Growth.

“HH Global’s rise reflects how the PPAI 100 scoring model looks beyond total revenue alone,” says Alok Bhat, market economist and PPAI’s research and public affairs lead. “Revenue size is an important factor, but the ranking also rewards business momentum, sustained growth and positive movement over time.”

Revenue size is an important factor, but the ranking also rewards business momentum, sustained growth and positive movement over time.”

Alok Bhat

Research & Public Affairs Lead, PPAI

Revenue growth percentage and positive revenue change since 2022 were especially strong for HH Global. The firm performed very well in this regard at a high enough scale to have strong impact on its overall standing in the rankings. “HH Global posted one of the largest positive revenue increases among distributors since 2022,” says Bhat. “That difference significantly affected the growth-related portions of the scorecard.”

According to Finlay, the growth over that time was attributable to steadily increasing capabilities and refining strengths while working more closely with the firm’s international clients.

“Our growth has been driven by a combination of clarity in our proposition and consistency in execution,” Finlay says. “We have continued to build on our long-established print heritage as a core strength of the business, while progressively expanding our capabilities around it, further strengthening our position as a global, end-to-end partner for marketing activation and supply chain. This evolution has enabled us to offer clients a broader, more integrated set of solutions, while maintaining the deep expertise and quality foundations that underpin our business.

“At the same time, we have deepened our relationships with global clients who are looking for scalable, sustainable solutions delivered with precision and accountability. That has been supported by continued investment in our people, our supplier network and our technology, particularly in data and AI, enabling us to deliver smarter, faster and more efficient outcomes at scale.”

Bhat says it’s important for PPAI 100 to give weight to business momentum. It helps give a deeper picture of the health of a company and provides a holistic ranking. Distributors with huge revenue are unlikely to ever stray far from the very top of the list, but HH Global’s rise in the ranking helped tell its story accurately.

“It reinforces that momentum matters,” Finlay says. “Over the past few years, we’ve been focused on building a business that delivers long-term value: combining global scale with local expertise, investing in innovation and embedding sustainability into everything we do. To see that progress reflected in a ranking that looks beyond revenue alone is especially meaningful for our teams around the world.”