JACKSON— Southern Pipe & Supply, headquartered in Meridian, took top honors in the large-company category in the 2012 Mississippi Business Journal’s “Best Places to Work” competition. This was the fifth year Southern Pipe & Supply has been selected as a “Best Places to Work” honoree.

    The Mississippi Business Journal partnered with Southern Research Group to survey employees from participating companies. The survey gathered employee feedback in the areas of culture and values, common purpose, learning and development, communication and recognition.

    “We are gratified that our family members feel Southern Pipe & Supply is a great place to work in Mississippi,” said Marty Davidson, chairman of the company’s board.

    Now in its fourth generation as a family owned and operated business, Southern Pipe & Supply refers to all employees as “family members.”

    Southern Pipe & Supply has more than 670 employees in 95 locations across the Southeast; of these, 240 work in Mississippi.

    “Our goal at Southern Pipe & Supply is to create a great workplace that allows our family members to enjoy their work, contribute to the success of the company, grow personally and professionally and share in the rewards for their hard work,” President and CEO Jay Davidson said.

    Founded in 1938 in Meridian by Russian immigrant Louis Davidson, Southern Pipe & Supply is one of the nation’s largest privately held, independent wholesalers of plumbing, heating, air conditioning, water, sewer and industrial products. The company also operates Southern Supply branches featuring HVAC product lines, as well as Southern Bath & Kitchen designer showrooms across the Southeast.

    Southern Pipe & Supply operates 25 locations in Mississippi: Batesville, Brookhaven, Clarksdale, Columbus, Corinth, Greenville, Greenwood, Grenada, Gulfport, Hattiesburg, Horn Lake, Jackson, Laurel, McComb, Meridian, Natchez, New Albany, Oxford, Pascagoula, Picayune, Starkville, Tupelo, Vicksburg, Waveland and Wiggins.