Cardinal Health

About Cardinal Health

In 1971, a young founder named Robert D. Walter started a business called Cardinal Foods, a food wholesaler based in Ohio. The playbook was straightforward: acquire smaller distributors to build a regional powerhouse. But Walter soon saw a better opportunity. In 1979, the company made a critical pivot by acquiring the Bailey Drug Company and entering pharmaceutical distribution. The move was so successful that by 1988, the company sold its food operations entirely to focus on healthcare. This strategic shift set the stage for explosive growth. The company went public in 1983 and, by 1994, had a nationwide presence, officially changing its name to Cardinal Health. The new focus was clear: become an essential player in the American healthcare system. Throughout the 1990s, Cardinal Health grew through a series of acquisitions, expanding beyond distribution into manufacturing medical and surgical products like gloves and gowns, and even developing automated pill dispensers. A defining moment came in 2009 when Cardinal Health spun off its clinical and medical products division into a new, independent public company called CareFusion. This allowed Cardinal Health to sharpen its focus on its core distribution business and its role as a vital link between pharmaceutical manufacturers and the providers who serve patients. Today, Cardinal Health serves over 75% of hospitals in the United States, a testament to a journey that started with groceries and pivoted to become a pillar of the healthcare industry.