R & B INC
10-K, 1998-03-27
MOTOR VEHICLE PARTS & ACCESSORIES
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                                SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                                      Washington, D.C. 20549
                                        -------------------

                                            FORM 10-K

                                       -------------------

                     |X| ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)OF THE
                                 SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

                          For the fiscal year ended December 27, 1997

                                                OR

                  |_|   TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
                                 SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
                                       -------------------

                                  Commission file number 0-18914

                                            R&B, INC.
                                Incorporated pursuant to the Laws
                               of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
                                       -------------------

                           IRS - Employer Identification No. 23-2078856

                       3400 East Walnut Street, Colmar, Pennsylvania 18915
                                          (215) 997-1800
                                       -------------------
                Securities Registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: NONE
                     Securities Registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
                                  Common Stock, $0.01 Par Value
                                       -------------------

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required
to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during
the  preceding 12 months (or for such  shorter  period that the  registrant  was
required  to file  such  reports)  and  (2)  has  been  subject  to such  filing
requirements for the past 90 days. Yes |X| No |_|

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent  filers  pursuant to Item 405
of Regulation S-K (ss.229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will
not be contained,  to the best of Registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or
information  statements  incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K
or any amendment to this Form 10-K. |_|

As of March 20, 1998 the Registrant had 8,068,002 common shares, $.01 par value,
outstanding,   and  the   aggregate   market  value  of  voting  stock  held  by
non-affiliates of the Registrant was $43,081,005.

                               DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

PART III - Certain information from the Registrant's  definitive Proxy Statement
for its Annual Meeting of Shareholders presently scheduled to be held on May 14,
1998.

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<PAGE>



                                            R & B, INC.

                                INDEX TO ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K
                                         DECEMBER 27, 1997

                                              Part I
                                                                            Page
Item 1.  Business. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . .  3
               General. . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   3
               The Scan-Tech Transaction  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  3
               The Automotive Aftermarket. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .  3
               Products. . . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4
               Product Development. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  5
               Sales and Marketing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  6
               Manufacturing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  7
               Packaging, Inventory and Shipping. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  7
               Competition. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  8
               Proprietary Rights. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   8
               Employees. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  8
               Scan-Tech. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  8
               Investment Considerations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  8

Item 2.   Properties. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Item 3.   Legal Proceedings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
Item 4.   Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders. . . . . . . . .12
Item 4.1 Certain Executive Officers of the Registrant. . . . . . . . . . . . .12

                                              Part II

Item 5.  Market for Registrant's Common Equity and Related Shareholder Matters14
Item 6.  Selected Financial Data. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Item 7.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and 
          Financial Condition.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . .  15
Item 8.  Consolidated Financial Statements and Supplementary Data. . .. . .   20
Item 9.  Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and
          Financial Disclosure.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  36

                                             Part III

Item 10.  Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant. . . . . . . .   36
Item 11.  Executive Compensation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   36
Item 12.  Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management. .   36
Item 13.  Certain Relationships and Related Transactions. . . . . . . . . .   37

                                              Part IV

Item 14.  Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules and Reports on Form 8-K. .  37
               Signatures. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  40
               Report of Independent Public Accountants on Financial 
                Statement Schedule. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  41
               Financial Statement Schedule. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  42






                                           Page 2 of 42

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                                              PART I

Item 1. Business.

General

        R&B, Inc. was incorporated in Pennsylvania in October 1978.  As used 
herein, unless the context otherwise requires, "R&B" or the "Company" refers to 
R&B, Inc. and its subsidiaries.

        The Company is a leading supplier of "hard-to-find"  parts and fasteners
for the automotive  aftermarket,  a market segment which it helped to establish.
The Company  designs,  packages  and markets  over 30,000  different  automotive
replacement  parts  and  fasteners  manufactured  to  its  specifications,  with
approximately   half   consisting  of   "hard-to-find"   parts  and   fasteners.
"Hard-to-find"  parts are those which were traditionally  available to consumers
only from  original  equipment  manufacturers  or junk yards and include,  among
other parts, window handles, headlamp aiming screws, power steering filler caps,
pedal pads and carburetor pre-heater hoses.  Fasteners include such items as oil
drain plugs and wheel lug nuts.  Approximately 78% of the Company's products are
sold  under  its  brand  names  and the  remainder  are  sold for  resale  under
customers'  private labels,  other brands or in bulk. The Company's products are
sold primarily in the United States  through  automotive  aftermarket  retailers
(such as AutoZone, The Pep Boys and Western Auto), national,  regional and local
warehouse  distributors  (such as Auto Value,  Carquest  and NAPA) and parts and
automobile  manufacturers  or dealers for resale under their own private  labels
(such as Moog and Raybestos).

The Scan-Tech Transaction

        Effective as of January 1, 1998, the Company  completed its  acquisition
of all of the outstanding stock of Scan-Tech USA/Sweden, A.B. and Scan-Tech USA,
Ltd. and related tooling assets (collectively "Scan-Tech") pursuant to Stock and
Asset Purchase Agreements dated as of January 1, 1998. Scan-Tech,  headquartered
in Stockholm,  Sweden,  distributes automotive replacement parts, primarily Saab
and Volvo,  throughout  Europe, the Middle East, the Far East and North America.
The Company  acquired all of the operations of Scan-Tech and intends to continue
the operations in substantially the same form.

The Automotive Aftermarket

        The automotive  replacement  parts market is made up of two  components:
parts  for  passenger  cars and  light  trucks,  which  accounted  for  sales of
approximately  $67 billion in 1996,  and parts for heavy duty  trucks,  which ac
counted for sales of approximately  $26.5 billion in 1996. The Company currently
markets products primarily for passenger cars and light trucks.

        Two distinct groups of end-users buy replacement  automotive  parts: (i)
individual consumers,  who purchase parts to perform "do-it-yourself" repairs on
their own vehicles; and (ii) professional  installers,  which include automotive
repair shops and the service departments of automobile  dealers.  The individual
consumer market is typically  supplied through  retailers and through the retail
arms of warehouse distributors. Automotive repair shops generally purchase parts
through local  independent  parts  wholesalers  and through  national  warehouse
distributors.  Automobile  dealer  service  departments  generally  obtain parts
through the  distribution  systems of automobile  manufacturers  and specialized
national and regional warehouse distributors.

        The  increasing  complexity of  automobiles  and the number of different
makes and models of automobiles  have resulted in a significant  increase in the
number of  products  required  to service the  domestic  and foreign  automotive
fleet. Accordingly,  the number of parts required to be carried by retailers and
wholesale distributors has


                                           Page 3 of 42

<PAGE>



increased  substantially.  These pressures to include more products in inventory
and the significant  consolidation among distributors of automotive  replacement
parts have in turn resulted in larger distributors.

        Retailers  and others who  purchase  aftermarket  automotive  repair and
replacement  parts for resale are con  strained  in the  short-term  to a finite
amount of space in which to display and stock products. Thus, the reputation for
quality,  customer service and line  profitability  which a supplier enjoys is a
significant factor in a purchaser's  decision as to which product lines to carry
in the limited space available.  Further,  because of the efficiencies  achieved
through the ability to order all or part of a complete line of products from one
supplier (with  possible  volume  discounts),  as opposed to satisfying the same
requirements  through  a  variety  of  different  sources,  retailers  and other
purchasers of automotive parts seek to purchase products from fewer but stronger
suppliers.


Products

        The Company sells over 30,000 different automotive replacement parts and
fasteners  to meet a  variety  of needs,  including  "hard-to-find"  parts  sold
primarily under the HELP!(R) brand name, a comprehensive  array of fasteners for
use by commercial  automotive repair facilities and sold under the Dorman(R) and
Service  Supply!(R) brand names, and traditional  automotive  replacement  parts
sold under the Company's other brand names as well as under  customers'  private
label brands.  The Company markets these parts  primarily  through its Motormite
(R) and Dorman(R)  divisions.  Many of the Company's  parts are sold under "dual
brands" in order to  provide  the  Company's  customers  with an  individualized
identity or to satisfy a particular brand  preference.  For example,  a customer
could  purchase a line of window handles under either the Motormite (R) HELP!(R)
brand or the Dorman (R) brand.  Certain of the Company's  brands,  such as Metal
Work!TM, are offered as a single brand through both the Motormite (R) and Dorman
(R)  divisions.  Approximately  78% of the  Company's  revenues are derived from
products sold under its more than fifty brand names including, among others, the
following:


* HELP!(R)                   - An extensive array of replacement parts, 
                             including window handles, knobs and
                             switches, door handles, control knobs, cigarette
                             lighters, interior trim parts, pedal pads, wheel
                             center caps, headlamp aiming screws and retainer 
                             rings, license plate frames and parts, windshield 
                             washer parts, hood latch release cables, radiator 
                             parts, battery hold-down bolts, valve train parts, 
                             spring U-bolts, tailgate cables, and power steering
                             filler caps

* Dorman  (R)                - An  extensive  array  of  replacement
                             parts,   including  many  hard-to-find   parts  and
                             fasteners.  The Dorman brand is designed to provide
                             the customer with a competitive brand alternative.

* Mighty Lift!(R)            - Trunk, hood and hatchback lift supports and 
                             component parts

* Steady Lift(R)             - Trunk, hood and hatchback lift supports and 
                             component parts

* Speedi-Boot!TM             - Constant velocity joint boots and clamps

* Quick-Boot(R)                     - Constant velocity joint boots and clamps

* Mighty Flow!(R)            - Air intake, carburetor preheater and defroster 
                             duct hoses

* Start!TM                   - Alternator and starter repair components

* Look!(R)                   - Sideview mirror glass



                                           Page 4 of 42

<PAGE>



* Clutch-In!TM               - Clutch cables, bushings, forks and pilot tools

* Cable-All!TM               - Accelerator, detent and transhift cables

* Gear-Up!(R)                - Flywheels, ring gears and flex plates

* Cool-Aid!(R)               - Air conditioning O-rings, gaskets, valves, tubes
                             and switches

* Strut-Tite!(R)             - Strut mounts and related parts

* Conduct-Tite!(R)           - Electrical connectors

* Oil-Tite!(R)               - Oil drain plugs and gaskets

* Wheel-Tite!(R)             - Wheel studs and lug nuts

* HPX(R)                     - High performance fasteners

* Metal Work!TM              - A program of metal-working  related
                             categories,    including   welding   supplies   and
                             accessories,   cutting   equipment   and  supplies,
                             abrasives  and  related  tools and brushes for hand
                             and power applications

* SafetyXCounts!TM           - Safety products relating to compliance items, 
                             gear for personal protection and first aid


        The  remainder of the  Company's  revenues are  generated by the sale of
parts packaged by the Company,  or others, for sale in bulk or under the private
labels of parts manufacturers  (such as Moog and Raybestos),  national warehouse
distributors (such as NAPA) and automobile  manufacturers or their dealers (such
as Ford's  "Motorcraft" brand and General Motors' "AC/Delco" brand).  During the
year  ended  December  1997,  no single  product or  related  group of  products
accounted for more than 10% of gross sales. During the years ended December 1996
and 1995,  the Company's  Mighty Lift!  and private label lines of lift supports
(which includes more than 200 different  models) accounted for approximately 10%
and 11% of gross sales, respectively.


Product Development

        Product   development  is  central  to  the  Company's   business.   The
development of a broad range of products,  many of which are not conveniently or
economically  available  elsewhere,  has in part, enabled the Company to grow to
its present  size and is  important  to its future  growth.  In  developing  its
products,  the Company's strategy has been to design and package its parts so as
to make them  better and easier to install  and/or use than the  original  parts
they replace and to sell  automotive  parts for the broadest  possible  range of
uses.  Through  careful  evaluation,  exacting design and precise  tooling,  the
Company is frequently  able to offer products which fit a broader range of makes
and models than the original equipment parts they replace, such as an innovative
neoprene  replacement  oil drain plug which fits not only a variety of Chevrolet
models,  but also Fords,  Chryslers and a range of foreign  makes.  This assists
retailers and other  purchasers in maximizing  the  productivity  of the limited
space  available  for each  class of part sold.  Further,  where  possible,  the
Company improves its parts so they are better than the parts they replace. Thus,
many of the  Company's  products  are  simpler  to  install  or  use,  such as a
replacement  "split  boot" for a constant  velocity  joint that can be installed
without  disassembling  the joint itself and a replacement  spare tire hold-down
bolt that is longer and easier to thread  than the  original  equipment  bolt it
replaced.  In addition,  the Company often packages  different items in complete
kits to ease installation.



                                           Page 5 of 42

<PAGE>



        Ideas for  expansion  of the  Company's  product  lines arise  through a
variety of sources.  The Company main tains an in-house  engineering  staff that
routinely  generates  ideas for new parts and expansion of existing  lines.  Fur
ther, the Company  maintains an "800" telephone  number and an Internet site for
"New Product  Suggestions"  and receives,  either  directly or through its sales
force,  many ideas from the  Company's  customers as to which types of presently
unavailable parts the ultimate consumers are seeking.

        Each new product idea is reviewed by the Company's engineering staff, as
well  as  by  members  of  the  production,   sales,   finance,   marketing  and
administrative staffs. In determining whether to produce an individual part or a
line of  related  parts,  the  Company  considers  the number of  vehicles  of a
particular  model  to  which  the  part  may  be  applied,   the  potential  for
modifications  which  will allow the  product  to be used over a broad  range of
makes and models,  the  average  age of the  vehicles in which the part would be
used and the failure rate of the part in question.  This review process  winnows
the many new product  suggestions  to those most likely to enhance the Company's
existing product lines or to support new product lines.


Sales and Marketing

        The Company  markets its parts to three groups of purchasers who in turn
supply individual consumers and professional installers:

               (i)  Approximately  47% of the  Company's  revenues are generated
        from sales to automotive  aftermarket  retailers (such as AutoZone,  The
        Pep Boys and Western Auto),  local  independent  parts  wholesalers  and
        national general merchandise chain retailers.  The Company sells some of
        its products to virtually  all major  chains of  automotive  aftermarket
        retailers;

               (ii)  Approximately  38% of the Company's  revenues are generated
        from sales to warehouse  distributors (such as Auto Value,  Carquest and
        NAPA), which may be local,  regional or national in scope, and which may
        also engage in retail sales; and

               (iii) The balance of the Company's  revenues are  generated  from
        sales to special markets,  which include,  among others,  salvage yards,
        automobile  dealers  and the  parts  distribution  systems  of parts and
        automobile manufacturers (such as Moog and Raybestos).

        The Company utilizes a number of different methods to sell its products.
The Company's  approximately 100 person direct sales force solicits purchases of
the  Company's  products  directly  from  customers,  as  well as  managing  the
activities of more than 15 independent  manufacturer's  representative agencies.
The Company uses an independent  manufacturer's  representative  to help service
existing retail customers,  providing frequent on-site contact.  The sales focus
is designed to increase sales by adding new product lines and expanding  product
selection within existing customers and secure new customers. For certain of its
major customers, and its private label purchasers,  the Company relies primarily
upon the direct  efforts of its sales force,  who,  together  with the Company's
executive   officers,   coordinate   the  more  complex   pricing  and  ordering
requirements of these accounts.

        The  Company's   sales  efforts  are  not  directed  merely  at  selling
individual  products,  but rather more broadly towards selling groups of related
products that can be displayed on attractive  Company-designed  display systems,
thereby maximizing each customer's ability to present the Company's product line
within the confines of the available area.

        The  Company  prepares  a number of  catalogs,  application  guides  and
training  materials  designed  to  describe  the  Company's  products  and other
applications  as well as to train the  customers'  salesmen in the promotion and
sale of the Company's products.  Every two to three years the Company prepares a
new master  catalog  which  lists all of its  products.  The  catalog is updated
periodically through supplements.



                                           Page 6 of 42

<PAGE>



        The Company  currently  services  approximately  10,000 active accounts.
During 1997, two customers  (AutoZone and The Pep Boys),  each accounted for 10%
or more of sales and in the aggregate  accounted  for 24% of sales.  During 1996
and 1995, one customer (AutoZone),  who purchased more than 20 different product
lines   representing   over  2,000  parts  from  the  Company,   accounted   for
approximately 14% of sales each year.

Manufacturing

        Substantially  all of the products sold by the Company are  manufactured
to its  specifications by third parties,  although  replacement  sideview mirror
glass (sold under its Look!  trademark),  is manufactured by the Company through
its  Accurate   Manufactured   Products  division.   Because  numerous  contract
manufacturers  are available to  manufacture  its  products,  the Company is not
dependent upon the services of any one contract  manufacturer or any small group
of them,  so no one vendor  supplies 10% or more of the Company's  products.  In
1997,  as a  percentage  of the total  dollar  volume of  purchases  made by the
Company, approximately 60% of the Company's products were purchased from various
suppliers  throughout the United States and  approximately  40% of the Company's
products were purchased from a variety of foreign countries.

        Once  a new  product  has  been  developed,  the  Company's  engineering
department produces detailed en gineering drawings and prototypes which are used
to solicit bids for  manufacture  from a variety of vendors in the United States
and abroad. After a vendor is selected, tooling for a production run is produced
by the vendor at the Company's  expense.  A pilot run of the product is produced
and subjected to rigorous testing by the Company's en gineering  department and,
on occasion, by outside testing laboratories and facilities in order to evaluate
the precision of manufacture and the resiliency and structural  integrity of the
materials used. If acceptable, the product then moves into full production.


Packaging, Inventory and Shipping

        Finished  products  are  received  at  one  or  more  of  the  Company's
facilities,  depending on the type of part.  Samples of each shipment are tested
upon receipt. If cleared,  these shipments of finished parts are logged into the
Company's computerized production tracking systems and staged for packaging.

        The Company employs a variety of custom-designed  packaging machines for
"blister  packaging,"  in  which  individual  parts  are  dropped  into  plastic
"blister" cups to which a preprinted card backing with  appropriate  graphics is
sealed,  and for "skinning," in which parts are pre-positioned on a printed card
backing,  over which a malleable plastic "skin" is laid and fixed by vacuum- and
heat-treatment  processes.  In either  event,  the  printed  card  contains  the
Company's label (or a private label), a part number,  a universal  packaging bar
code suitable for electronic scanning, a description of the part and appropriate
installation  instructions.  Products are also sold in bulk to automotive  parts
manufacturers and packagers.  Computerized tracking systems, mechanical counting
devices and  experienced  workers  combine to assure that the proper variety and
number  of  parts  meet the  correct  packaging  and  backing  materials  at the
appropriate  places and times to produce  the  required  quantities  of finished
products.

        Completed  inventory  is  stocked  in  the  warehouse  portions  of  the
Company's  facilities  and is organized ac cording to  historical  popularity in
order to aid in retrieval for shipping.  The Company strives to maintain a level
of inventory to adequately  meet current  customer order demand with  additional
inventory to satisfy new customer orders and special programs. In the aggregate,
this has resulted in approximately a two month supply of its products,  packaged
and readily available for shipment,  and a three to four month supply of product
in finished bulk form ready for packaging.

        The Company  ships its  products  from all of its  locations,  either by
contract  carrier,  common  carrier or parcel  service.  Products are  generally
shipped to the  customer's  central  warehouse for  redistribution  within their
network. In certain  circumstances,  at the request of the customer, the Company
ships directly to the customer's stores.



                                           Page 7 of 42

<PAGE>




Competition

        The replacement automotive parts industry is highly competitive. Various
competitive  factors  affecting the automotive  aftermarket  are price,  product
quality,  breadth of product line,  range of applications and customer serv ice.
Substantially  all of the  Company's  products are subject to  competition  with
similar products  manufactured by other manufacturers of aftermarket  automotive
repair and  replacement  parts.  Some of these  competitors  are  divisions  and
subsidiaries  of companies  much larger than the  Company,  and possess a longer
history  of  operations  and  greater  financial  and other  resources  than the
Company.  Further,  some of the Company's  private label  customers also compete
with the Company.

Proprietary Rights

        While the Company takes steps to register its trademarks  when possible,
it does not believe that trademark  registration  is generally  important to its
business.  Similarly, while the Company actively seeks patent protection for the
products and  improvements  which it  develops,  it does not believe that patent
protection is generally important to its business.

Employees

        At December 27, 1997,  the Company had 931  employees,  of whom 865 were
employed full-time and 66 were employed part-time. Of these employees,  641 were
engaged in  production,  inventory,  or quality  control,  49 were  involved  in
engineering and product development, 144 were employed in sales and order entry,
and the remaining 97, including the Company's 9 executive officers, were devoted
to administration, finance and strategic planning.

        No  employee  is covered by any  collective  bargaining  agreement.  The
Company considers its relations with its employees to be generally good.


Scan-Tech

        The following describes the business of Scan-Tech, which was acquired by
the Company. Scan-Tech is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company.

        Scan-Tech is an  international  distributor  of  automotive  replacement
parts, primarily Saab and Volvo,  headquartered in Stockholm,  Sweden. Scan-Tech
sells over 5,000  different  parts,  including  suspension  parts and engine and
transmission  mounts throughout  Europe, the Middle East, the Far East and North
America.   Scan-Tech  sources  its  products  globally,  with  no  one  supplier
representing more than 10% of its purchases.  Scan-Tech sells to over 300 active
customers, with no one customer accounting for more than 10% of sales.

        At December 31, 1997,  Scan-Tech  had 21  employees.  As a result of the
acquisition,  the  Company  does not expect the  number of  employees  to change
materially.


Investment Considerations

        Increasing Service Life. Advancing technology and competitive  pressures
have compelled  original  equipment  automobile and parts  manufacturers  to use
parts  with  longer  service  lives,  which  are  covered  by  longer  and  more
comprehensive  warranties.  This may have the effect of reducing  demand for the
Company's  products by delaying the onset of repair  conditions  requiring their
use.



                                           Page 8 of 42

<PAGE>



        Competition  for Shelf Space.  Since the amount of space  available to a
retailer  and  other  purchasers  of the  Company's  products  is  limited,  the
Company's products compete with other automotive  aftermarket products,  some of
which are entirely dissimilar and otherwise  non-competitive  (such as car waxes
and engine  oil),  for shelf and floor  space.  No  assurance  can be given that
additional space will be available in a customers'  stores to support  expansion
of the number of products offered by the Company.

        Concentration of Sales to Certain Customers. A significant percentage of
the Company's  sales have been,  and will continue to be,  concentrated  among a
relatively  small  number of  customers.  In 1997,  the  Company's  two  largest
customers  (AutoZone and The Pep Boys)  accounted for  approximately  24% of the
Company's net sales. The Company  anticipates  that this  concentration of sales
among customers will continue in the future. The loss of a significant  customer
or a  substantial  decrease  in sales to such a  customer  could have a material
adverse effect on the Company's  sales and operating  results.  In 1997,  Monroe
Auto Equipment Co.  ("Monroe")  began to manufacture or source directly a series
of products previously purchased from the Company, with a resulting reduction of
sales to the Company of approximately $5.0 million. See "Management's Discussion
and  Analysis  of  Results  of   Operations   and   Financial   Condition"   and
"Business-Sales and Marketing."

        Dependence on Senior Management.  The success of the Company's business 
will continue to be dependent upon Richard N. Berman, Chairman of the Board, 
President and Chief Executive Officer and Steven L. Berman, Executive Vice 
President, Secretary-Treasurer and Director. The loss of the services of one or
both of these individuals could have a material adverse effect on the Company's 
business.

        Dividend Policy.  The Company does not intend to pay cash dividends for 
the foreseeable future. Rather, the Company intends to retain its earnings, if 
any, for the operation and expansion of the Company's business.

        Control by Officers, Directors and Family Members. Richard N. Berman and
Steven L. Berman,  who are officers and directors of the Company,  their father,
Jordan S.  Berman,  and  their  brothers,  Marc H.  Berman  and Fred B.  Berman,
beneficially own approximately 48% of the outstanding  Common Stock and are able
to elect the Board of Directors, determine the outcome of most corporate actions
requiring shareholder approval (including certain fundamental  transactions) and
control the policies of the Company. A covenant in the Company's credit facility
provides  that Richard N. Berman,  Steven L. Berman,  Jordan S. Berman,  Marc H.
Berman and Fred B.  Berman must  maintain a 25%  interest  in the  Company,  and
maintain  control as that term is defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Act of
1934, as amended. See Note 5 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

        Possible Environmental Liability.  See "Legal Proceedings."




                                           Page 9 of 42

<PAGE>



Item 2.  Properties.

Facilities

        The  Company's  principal  offices  are  located  on a 30 acre  tract in
Colmar, Pennsylvania.  The tract contains a 334,000 square foot building and two
adjoining buildings, which have an aggregate area of approximately 17,000 square
feet.  Approximately  326,500 square feet of these three structures are used for
receiving,  packaging,  warehousing and shipping and approximately 24,500 square
feet are used for executive and  administrative  purposes.  A 97,000 square foot
Company facility in Carrollton,  Georgia also houses packaging production lines,
distribution  facilities  and a  warehouse.  Both the  Pennsylvania  and Georgia
facilities are leased by the Company from two partnerships (the  "partnerships")
of which  Richard  N.  Berman,  President  and Chief  Executive  Officer  of the
Company,  and Steven L. Berman,  Executive Vice President of the Company,  their
father, Jordan S. Berman, and their brothers, Marc H. Berman and Fred B. Berman,
are partners.

        Under the lease for the Pennsylvania  property, the Company paid rent of
$3.12 per square foot ($1.0  million per year) in 1997.  Under the lease for the
Georgia  property,  the Company paid rent of $2.48 per square foot ($0.2 million
per year) in 1997.  The  rents  payable  on both the  Pennsylvania  and  Georgia
properties  will be adjusted on January 1 of each year to reflect annual changes
in the Consumer  Price Index for All Urban  Consumers - U.S. City  Average,  All
Items. In addition,  the Company's  revised lease for its Pennsylvania  property
grants the lessor the right,  exercisable  at its option on January 1, 2000,  to
increase the rent to an amount determined by an independent  appraiser to be the
then fair market rent. The Pennsylvania lease provides that, after giving effect
to the foregoing adjustments,  the rent payable for a given year will be reduced
if, and to the extent that,  it exceeds the  Company's  pre-tax  income  (before
actual rent expense  under the lease) for the  preceding  fiscal year;  provided
that the rent will not be reduced  below $0.6 million  ($1.62 per square  foot).
The leases for the Pennsylvania and Georgia  properties are "net" leases,  under
which the Company is  responsible  for all expenses  attributable  to the leased
properties  (including  maintenance  and  repair)  and  for the  conduct  of its
operations in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. The Company's
lease for its  Pennsylvania  property  provides that, as between the Company and
the  related  partnership  lessor,  the  lessor and its  partners  will bear any
environmental  liability and all related  expenses,  including  legal  expenses,
incurred by the  Company or the lessor as a result of matters  which arose other
than from activities of the Company  (although for any  environmental  liability
arising from the Company's activities,  the Company will bear all such liability
and any related expenses,  including legal expenses,  incurred by the Company or
the lessor).  The  Pennsylvania  lease will expire on December 28, 2002, and the
Georgia lease will expire on January 2, 2005. In the opinion of management,  the
terms of these  leases are no less  favorable  than those  which could have been
obtained from an unaffiliated party.

        The Pennsylvania  property is being purchased by the  partnerships  from
the Montgomery  County  Industrial  Development  Corporation  ("MCIDC") under an
installment  sale  agreement.  MCIDC  has,  in  turn,  borrowed  ap  proximately
$1,971,000  from  CoreStates  Bank,  N.A.   ("CoreStates")   and   approximately
$1,161,000 from the Pen nsylvania Industrial  Development  Authority ("PIDA") to
fund in full its purchase and  development  of the Pennsyl vania  property.  The
partnerships'  payments  to MCIDC  under  the  installment  sale  agreement  are
required to be at least equal to the  principal  and  interest  payable by MCIDC
under these two loans,  and the Company's  rental pay ments on the  Pennsylvania
property are required to be at least equal to the  partnership's  payments under
the install  ment sale  agreement  with MCIDC.  The Company has  guaranteed  the
obligations  of the  partnerships  and MCIDC to CoreStates and of MCIDC to PIDA.
Under  the  provisions  of the  agreement  pursuant  to which  the  partnerships
acquired the Colmar property,  the partnerships may be required to indemnify the
seller of that property for environmental  liabilities which existed at the time
of the sale.

        A  third  Company  facility,  located  on a 23  acre  tract  in  Warsaw,
Kentucky, is a 185,000 square foot office building and warehouse.  Approximately
160,000  square  feet  of  this  structure  is used  for  receiving,  packaging,
warehousing and shipping and approximately  25,000 square feet is used for sales
and administrative  purposes. An approximately 100,000 square foot expansion was
completed in April 1996. The Kentucky facility is being purchased, pursuant to a
lease purchase agreement,  from the City of Warsaw,  Kentucky (the "City").  The
City's


                                          Page 10 of 42

<PAGE>



acquisition  of the fee  interest and building  construction  was financed  with
$6,500,000  Floating/Fixed  Rate Industrial  Building Revenue Bonds, Series 1988
(SDI Operating  Partners L.P. Project) (the "Bonds").  Under the lease agreement
for the Kentucky  property,  the Company pays interest monthly on the Bonds at a
floating  rate,  and makes a monthly  "sinking fund" payment to cover the annual
principal  payment of $300,000 or $350,000 in alternating  years, with the final
payment due in July,  2009.  In 1997 the Company paid  $300,000 in principal and
$160,000 in interest under the Bonds.

        A fourth Company facility,  located in Elbow Lake, Minnesota is a 18,000
square foot office and warehouse  facility.  The building and five acre tract is
owned by the Company.

        A fifth  Company  facility is a 32,000  square foot office and warehouse
facility located in Jessup, Maryland. The Maryland facility is occupied pursuant
to a written  lease which  expires in  November  1998,  but  includes an option,
exercisable by the Company, to renew for an additional five year term.

        A sixth facility, located in Cape Canaveral,  Florida, is a 5,000 square
foot  facility,  used  primarily  for  telemarketing.  The  Florida  facility is
occupied on a month-to-month basis under a written lease agreement.


Scan-Tech Facilities

        Scan-Tech's  principal  office and  warehouse  is a 14,500  square  foot
facility  located in a suburb of Stockholm,  Sweden.  The Stockholm  facility is
occupied pursuant to a written lease which expires in September, 1999.

        A second facility,  located in Alexandria,  Minnesota, is a 4,500 square
foot warehouse and office facility.  The Minnesota facility is occupied pursuant
to a written lease which expires in September 1998.


Item 3.  Legal Proceedings.

        In addition to commitments  and  obligation  which arise in the ordinary
course of business,  the Company is subject to various  claims and legal actions
from time to time involving contracts,  competitive practices, trademark rights,
product  liability  claims and other  matters  arising out of the conduct of the
Company's business.

        The Company's primary operating facility in Colmar, Pennsylvania,  which
is leased from the  partnership,  is located  within an area  identified  by the
Environmental  Protection  Agency  ("EPA") as a possible  source or  location of
volatile  organic  chemical  contamination.  In  November  1990,  the EPA sent a
general  notice  letter to certain  present and former  owners and  operators of
properties  within this area,  informing  them that they may be liable under the
Comprehensive  Environmental  Response,  Compensation  and  Liability  Act  with
respect to this contamination. As a current operator of the Colmar property, the
Company received such a general notice letter. The Company may be deemed jointly
and severally liable,  together with all other potentially  responsible parties,
for (i) the  costs  of  performing  a study  of the  nature  and  extent  of the
contamination and the possible alternatives for remediation,  if any, as well as
(ii) the costs of effectuating that remediation. The Company's operations do not
generally  have,  and  have  not  generally  had,  an  adverse  impact  upon the
environment or produce or use the materials of environmental concern that caused
the  contamination  being  investigated by the EPA and the Company believes that
its  Colmar  site  has not  historically  been a source  of such  contamination,
although  the  Company  has been told that such  material  may have been used in
limited quantities by a prior operator of the facility.  The Company's lease for
its Colmar  facility  provides  that,  as between  the  Company  and the related
partnership  lessor,  the lessor and its  partners  will bear any  environmental
liability and all related  expenses,  including legal expenses,  incurred by the
Company or the lessor as a result of the presence of hazardous substances at the
facility  (although for any  environmental  liability arising from the Company's
activities,  the Company will bear all such liability and any related  expenses,
including legal expenses, incurred by the Company or the lessor).


                                          Page 11 of 42

<PAGE>



        On February 27,  1996,  the  Company's  subsidiary,  Dorman  Products of
America, Ltd. ("Dorman"),  filed a complaint in the United States District Court
for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania  against SDI Operating  Partners,  L.P.
("SDI") for damages  resulting  from,  inter alia, an alleged  breach of various
representations  and warranties  contained in the Asset Purchase Agreement dated
as of October 5, 1994  between  Dorman and SDI. On April 25,  1996,  SDI filed a
complaint in the Court of Common Pleas, Montgomery County,  Pennsylvania against
Dorman and the Company for damages of  approximately  $450,000  resulting  from,
inter alia,  Dorman's alleged failure to use its "best efforts" to assist SDI in
collecting  certain past due accounts  receivable  which were not transferred to
Dorman as a result of the acquisition.  In addition,  SDI is seeking declaratory
judgment  that SDI has not breached the  representations  and  warranties of the
Asset  Purchase  Agreement as alleged by Dorman in the federal court action.  In
May 1996, the issues were  consolidated  and will proceed in the Court of Common
Pleas.



Item 4.  Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

        There were no matters submitted to a vote of the security holders of the
Company during the fourth quarter of fiscal year 1997.


Item 4.1  Certain Executive Officers of the Registrant.

        The following table sets forth certain  information  with respect to the
executive officers of the Company:

Name                    Age  Position with the Company

Richard N. Berman        41  President, Chief Executive Officer, Chairman of the
                             Board of Directors, and Director

Steven L. Berman         38  Executive Vice President, Secretary-Treasurer, and
                             Director

Edward L. Dean           41  Vice President, Marketing and Engineering

David A. Eustice         37  Chief Operating Officer

Kenneth W. Husband       41  Vice President, Purchasing

Ronald R. Montgomery     56  Vice President, Sales

Barry D. Myers           38  Vice President, General Counsel and Assistant 
                             Secretary

Ken W. Parman            36  Vice President, Sales - R&B Automotive

Malcolm S. Walter        44  Chief Financial and Accounting Officer

        Richard N.  Berman has been  President,  Chief  Executive  Officer and a
Director of the Company since its inception in October 1978. He is a graduate of
the University of Pennsylvania.

        Steven L. Berman has been Executive Vice-President, Secretary-Treasurer 
and a Director of the Company since its inception.He attended Temple University.





                                          Page 12 of 42

<PAGE>



        Edward L. Dean joined the Company in  November  1997 as Vice  President,
Marketing. Prior to joining the Company Mr. Dean was the Vice President of Sales
with Angelo Brothers Co., a lighting products  company.  He is a graduate of The
State University of New York at Buffalo.

        David A. Eustice joined the Company in December 1996 as Vice  President,
Operations  and was named  Chief  Operating  Officer in January  1998.  Prior to
joining the Company Mr.  Eustice was the Vice  President of Operations  with the
Baldwin  Hardware  Division  of  Masco  Corporation.   Baldwin  is  a  high  end
manufacturer  and  international  distributor of  architectural  hardware.  From
August 1990 to January 1994, Mr.  Eustice was a Senior  Project  Manager for USC
Consulting,  a operational  improvement  firm.  While with USC  Consulting,  Mr.
Eustice  consulted to clients including IBM, Copper  Industries,  PPG Industries
and Masco  Corporation.  He is a graduate of The State University of New York at
Buffalo.

        Kenneth W.  Husband has been an employee  of the Company  since  January
1980, and has been Vice President,  Purchasing for more than five years. He is a
graduate of The Pennsylvania State University.

        Ronald R. Montgomery  joined the Company in June 1997 as Vice President,
Sales.  Prior to joining the Company Mr.  Montgomery was Senior Vice  President,
Sales for the  Coleman  Company,  responsible  for North  American  sales in the
outdoor and camping equipment division.  From December 1979 to October 1995, Mr.
Montgomery held various senior sales positions with Black & Decker, Inc. He is a
graduate of Miami University (Ohio).

        Barry D. Myers has been an employee of the Company since March 1988, and
has been Vice President,  General Counsel and Assistant  Secretary for more than
five years. He is a graduate of Moravian College and Syracuse University College
of Law, and is a member of the Pennsylvania Bar.

        Kenneth W. Parman has been an employee of the Company for more than five
years, and has been Vice President,  Sales - R&B Automotive since February 1996.
He is a graduate of the University of Toledo.

        Malcolm  S.  Walter  joined the  Company  in  January  1996 as the Chief
Financial Officer.  Prior to joining the Company,  Mr. Walter was a principal of
Malcolm S. Walter & Associates,  a management  consulting  firm,  which provides
assistance in financing,  strategic planning, and budgeting. From August 1994 to
July 1995,  Mr. Walter was the President and founder of iTravel,  a developer of
CD-ROM  products for the leisure  travel  industry.  Prior to August  1994,  Mr.
Walter was Chief  Financial  Officer and then General  Manager of the Multimedia
division,  of  Ensoniq,  a computer  hardware  company.  He is a graduate of the
Wharton School and is a Certified Public Accountant.





                                          Page 13 of 42

<PAGE>



                                              PART II

Item 5.  Market for Registrant's Common Equity and Related Shareholder Matters.

        The  Company's  shares  of  common  stock  are  traded  publicly  in the
over-the-counter  market under the NASDAQ system.  At March 20, 1998, there were
100 holders of record of common stock,  representing  more than 2,000 beneficial
owners.  The last price for the  Company's  common stock on March 20,  1998,  as
reported by NASDAQ,  was $10.56 per share.  Since the Company's  initial  public
offering,  it has  paid  no cash  dividends.  The  Company  does  not  presently
contemplate  paying any such dividends in the foreseeable  future.  The range of
high and low  sales  price for the  Company's  common  stock for each  quarterly
period of 1997 and 1996 are as follows:


                             1997                    1996
                   ------------------------ -----------------------
                      High         Low         High        Low
- ------------------ ----------- ------------ ---------- ------------
First Quarter              $8.38        $7.13      $7.38        $5.88
Second Quarter              8.25         7.25       7.63         5.38
Third Quarter               9.13         7.88       8.25         6.25
Fourth Quarter             10.25         8.58       8.50         7.00




Item 6.  Selected Financial Data.
<TABLE>

                               Selected Consolidated Financial Data


<CAPTION>

                                                          Year Ended December
                               -------------------------------------------------------------------------
(in thousands, except per share data1997           1996          1995           1994           1993
- -----------------------------  --------------  ------------ -------------- --------------- -------------

<S>                                  <C>           <C>            <C>              <C>           <C>    
Income Statement Data:
   Net sales                         $153,046      $146,952       $113,826         $65,792       $62,342
   Income from operations              14,784        13,244         10,455           5,597         7,745
                                                                    5,5973
   Net income                           6,714         5,662          4,433           3,226         4,525
   Basic and diluted earnings per        0.83          0.71           0.56            0.41          0.65
      share
Balance Sheet Data:
   Total assets                       128,707       128,970        106,475          52,437        47,368
   Working capital                     58,609        63,368         51,559          38,940        36,701
   Long-term debt                      44,336        56,248         46,629           3,202         3,444
   Shareholders' equity                61,162        54,169         48,221          43,638        40,268

</TABLE>










                                          Page 14 of 42

<PAGE>




Item 7.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and 
         Financial Condition.

General

       Over the  periods  presented,  the  Company  has  focused  its efforts on
providing an expanding  array of new product  offerings  and  strengthening  its
relationships with its customers.  To that end, the Company has made significant
investments  to increase  market  penetration,  primarily in the form of product
development,  customer service,  customer credits and allowances,  and strategic
acquisitions.

       The  Company  calculates  its  net  sales  by  subtracting   credits  and
allowances  from  gross  sales.   Credits  and  allowances   include  costs  for
co-operative  advertising,  product  returns,  discounts  given to customers who
purchase  new  products  for  inclusion  in  their  stores,   and  the  cost  of
competitors'  products that are purchased from the customer in order to induce a
customer  to  purchase  new  product  lines from the  Company.  The  credits and
allowances are designed to increase  market  penetration and increase the number
of product lines carried by customers by displacing competitors' products within
customers' stores and promoting consolidation of customers' suppliers.

       The Company  may  experience  significant  fluctuations  from  quarter to
quarter in its results of  operations  due to the timing of orders placed by the
Company's customers.  Generally,  the second and third quarters have the highest
level of customer orders, but the introduction of new products and product lines
to customers may cause significant fluctuations from quarter to quarter.

       Over the periods  presented,  the Company has increased the percentage of
products sold to its major customers,  in part due to  consolidation  within the
automotive  aftermarket.  As a  general  rule,  sales  to  the  Company's  major
customers are at lower margins than sales to other customers.

       In January  1995,  the Company  acquired the Dorman  Products  ("Dorman")
division of SDI Operating  Partners L.P. ("SDI").  Dorman is one of the nation's
oldest suppliers of automotive aftermarket parts and fasteners.

       In August 1995, the Company acquired all of the outstanding  common stock
of  Cosmos  International,   Inc.  ("Cosmos"),  a  privately  held  supplier  of
protective  boots for the constant  velocity  (CV) joints on  front-wheel  drive
vehicles, located in Elbow Lake, Minnesota.

       In  January  1996,  the  Company  acquired  the  assets  of  Motor  Power
Industries  Corporation and subsidiary  ("MPI").  MPI is a national  supplier of
auto parts to car dealers,  auto salvage yards,  specialty  rebuilders and niche
markets.

       The Company  operates on a fifty-two,  fifty-three  week period ending on
the last Saturday of the calendar year.



                                         Page 15 of 42

<PAGE>



Results of Operations

       The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the percentage
of net  sales  represented  by cer  tain  items  in the  Company's  Consolidated
Statements of Income.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                             Percentage of Net Sales
                             -------------------------------------------------------
                                                   Year Ended
                             -------------------------------------------------------
                                December 27,      December 28,      December 30,
                                    1997              1996              1995
- ---------------------------  ------------------ ---------------- -------------------
<S>                                  <C>              <C>                 <C>   
Net sales                            100.0%           100.0%              100.0%
Cost of goods sold                    60.8             61.9                61.2
- ---------------------------  ------------------ ---------------- -------------------
Gross profit                          39.2             38.1                38.8
Selling, general and
  administrative expenses             29.6             29.1                29.6
- ---------------------------  ------------------ ---------------- -------------------
Income from operations                 9.6              9.0                 9.2
Interest expense, net                  2.7              2.9                 3.2
- ---------------------------  ------------------ ---------------- -------------------
Income before taxes                    6.9              6.1                 6.0
Provision for taxes                    2.5              2.2                 2.1
- ---------------------------  ------------------ ---------------- -------------------
Net income                             4.4%             3.9%                3.9%
===========================  ================== ================ ===================
</TABLE>

1997 Compared to 1996

       Net sales  increased  to $153.0  million in 1997 from  $147.0  million in
1996, an increase of 4.1%. This increase  resulted from an $8.0 million increase
in core business sales due to increased  product line  penetration with existing
customers  and a $3.0  million  increase  in  sales  at MPI due  largely  to new
products,  offset by the loss of $5.0 million in sales to Monroe  Equipment  Co.
who,  in 1997,  began to  manufacture  or source  directly a series of  products
previously purchased from the Company.

       Cost of goods sold  increased to $93.0 million in 1997 from $90.9 million
in 1996, an increase of 2.4%.  As a percentage of net sales,  cost of goods sold
decreased  in 1997 to  60.8%  from  61.9%  in 1996.  This  improvement  resulted
primarily from a reduction in the labor content of the Company's products due to
improved efficiency and productivity.

       Selling,  general and administrative expenses for 1997 increased to $45.2
million from $42.8  million in 1996, an increase of 5.6%. As a percentage of net
sales, selling,  general and administrative  expenses increased in 1997 to 29.6%
from 29.1% in 1996. This increase was the result of approximately:  $1.8 million
in salaries and related  benefits due to the Company's annual increase in wages,
the hiring of three vice  presidents  to complete the  management  team,  and an
increase in medical  benefits;  $0.4 million or 8.0% increase in MPI's  expenses
compared to a sales increase of 16.1%;  and $0.4 million  increase in consulting
fees primarily associated with the operational productivity improvement project.

       Interest  expense,  net,  decreased  to $4.2  million  in 1997  from $4.3
million in 1996. This decrease resulted from the debt repayments during 1997.

       A provision  for income  taxes was  recorded in 1997 of $3.9  million and
$3.3 million in 1996.  The  Company's  effective  tax rate was 36.5% in 1997 and
36.7% in 1996. This change reflects  slightly lower effective state taxes due to
revenue shifts and asset allocations.







                                         Page 16 of 42

<PAGE>



1996 Compared to 1995

       Net sales  increased  to $147.0  million in 1996 from  $113.8  million in
1995, an increase of 29.1%.  This increase  resulted  primarily  from  increased
sales due to the MPI and Cosmos  acquisitions  as well as sales to the Company's
largest customers from both existing and new product lines.

       Cost of goods sold for 1996 increased to $90.9 million from $69.7 million
for 1995, an increase of 30.4%. As a percentage of net sales, cost of goods sold
for 1996  increased to 61.9% from 61.2% for 1995. The increase was primarily due
to the acquisition of MPI which, as a distributor, achieves a lower margin.

   Selling,  general and  administrative  expenses  for 1996  increased to $42.8
million from $33.7 million for 1995, an increase of 27.2%. This increase was the
result of approximately: $5.7 million representing the operating expenses of the
newly  acquired  businesses  (MPI and  Cosmos);  $1.5  million  attributable  to
shipping labor and overhead costs;  $0.9 million in selling  expenses  including
freight and catalog  amortization;  and $0.5 million in administrative  expenses
including professional fees.

   Interest expense,  net,  increased to $4.3 million for 1996 from $3.6 million
for 1995.  This  increase  was the  result of  additional  interest  expense  on
borrowings used to acquire MPI and Cosmos.

   A provision  for income  taxes of $3.3 million was recorded for 1996 and $2.4
million was recorded for 1995.  The  Company's  effective tax rate was 36.7% for
1996 and 35.5% for 1995. The increase in the effective tax rate is primarily the
result of higher state taxes.

   Net income increased $1.3 million, or 27.7% to $5.7 million for 1996 from 
$4.4 million for 1995.   As a percentage of net sales, net income remained 
unchanged at 3.9%.



Liquidity and Capital Resources

   The Company has  financed  its growth  primarily  through  cash flow from its
operations,  borrowings under its credit facility and industrial  revenue bonds.
Working  capital was $58.6  million as of December 27, 1997 and $63.4 million as
of December 28, 1996. The Company  believes that cash generated from  operations
and borrowings  available under its revolving credit facility will be sufficient
to meet the  Company's  working  capital  needs  and to fund  expansion  for the
foreseeable future (see also Note 12).

   Net cash provided by operating  activities was $16.3 million in 1997 and $2.6
million in 1995 while net cash used in  operating  activities  amounted  to $1.9
million in 1996.  These  amounts  represent  net income  plus  depreciation  and
amortization  less  changes in working  capital.  During  1997,  net income plus
non-cash  charges  generated  $13.9  million  of  operating  cash flow which was
increased by $2.4 million resulting from a $3.4 million reduction in inventories
and a $3.2 million  increase in accounts  payable and other accrued  liabilities
offset by an increase of $2.8 million in accounts receivable and $1.4 million in
prepaids  and other  assets.  During  1996,  net income  plus  non-cash  charges
generated  $9.9  million of  operating  cash flow  which was  reduced by a $11.8
million  use of cash as a result  of  working  capital  increases  necessary  to
support the  increase in sales.  For 1995,  cash  generated  from net income and
non-cash  charges  was  offset by  increased  working  capital  needs,  the most
significant of which was for inventories.

   Net cash used in investing activities amounted to $4.5 million, $9.0 million,
and $43.5 million in 1997,  1996 and 1995,  respectively.  In 1997,  these funds
were used to purchase computer  equipment,  machinery,  packaging  equipment and
tooling. In 1996, the largest part of the investing  activities was $5.2 million
for the acquisition of MPI, with the balance  represented by increased warehouse
space and equipment.  In 1995, the  acquisitions  of Dorman and Cosmos for $41.8
million represented nearly all of the total investing activities.


                                         Page 17 of 42

<PAGE>



   Net cash used in financing activities amounted to $11.1 million in 1997 while
net cash  provided by financing  activities  amounted to $10.5 million and $41.6
million  for 1996 and 1995,  respectively.  In 1997 cash was used to reduce  the
amounts  outstanding  under the  Company's  revolving  credit  facility  and for
repayments of term debt and capital lease  obligations.  For 1996 and 1995, cash
was received from commercial  borrowings  under the Company's  credit  facility,
offset somewhat by the scheduled term debt payments and the continued paydown of
capitalized lease obligations.

   The  Acquisition  of MPI. In 1996,  MPI was acquired with the payment of cash
consideration in the amount of approximately  $5.2 million and the assumption of
certain liabilities,  including  approximately $2.3 million in the assumption of
bank debt.

   The  Acquisition  of Dorman.  In 1995,  Dorman was acquired from SDI with the
payment of cash  consideration in the amount of approximately  $38.5 million and
the assumption of certain liabilities,  including  approximately $5.0 million in
assumption of Industrial Revenue Bonds ("Bonds"). Pursuant to the Asset Purchase
Agreement,  the purchase  price is subject to  adjustment  based upon changes in
Dorman's  balance sheet between June 30, 1994 and December 31, 1994. The Company
has made a claim to SDI under this  provision.  In addition,  Dorman has filed a
complaint against SDI for damages resulting from, among other things, an alleged
breach of various representations and warranties contained in the Asset Purchase
Agreement.

   The Acquisition of Cosmos. In 1995, Cosmos was acquired with the payment of 
cash consideration in the amount of approximately $3.6 million.

   The  Scan-Tech  Transaction.  In  January  1998,  the  Company  acquired  the
outstanding stock of Scan-Tech USA/Sweden AB and related entities ("Scan-Tech").
Headquartered  in Stockholm,  Sweden,  Scan-Tech is a distributor of replacement
automotive  parts,  primarily  Volvo and Saab,  throughout  Europe,  the  United
States,  Russia,  the  Middle  East  and the  Far  East  with  annual  sales  of
approximately  $10 million in 1997.  The  acquisition  was effected  through the
payment of $1 million in cash,  350,000 shares of the Company's common stock and
the assumption of certain  liabilities  including  approximately $0.8 million in
bank debt. Of the shares, 250,000 will vest over four years and will be included
in the computation of the purchase price.  The remaining  100,000 are subject to
performance  criteria and will be included in the  computation of purchase price
as the criteria are met.

   Commercial  Borrowings.  In January  1995,  the Company  expanded  its credit
facility to $60.0  million from a syndicate  of  commercial  banks  comprised of
CoreStates  Bank, N.A.  (agent),  The Fifth Third Bank N.A. and a third bank who
was replaced by National City Bank in 1997.  The credit  facility  consists of a
term portion of $25.0 million (1995 Term Loan),  a revolving  credit  portion of
$30.0 million, and a letter of credit portion of $5.0 million used to secure the
Bonds. The term portion of the facility bears interest at a floating rate equal,
at the Company's  option,  to Libor plus 110 basis points,  or CoreStates  Bank,
N.A.'s prime rate,  has a seven-year  term and requires  graduated  amortization
payments in the amount of $3.5 million in 1998  increasing  by $0.5 million each
year  thereafter  with a final  payment of $6.0 million in 2001.  The  revolving
credit portion bears interest at a floating rate equal, at the Company's option,
to Libor plus 85 basis  points,  or  CoreStates  Bank,  N.A.'s  prime rate,  and
expires January 31, 2001. In April 1996, the Company amended its credit facility
to include a new $12.0  million  term loan (1996 Term Loan) with  interest  at a
floating rate equal, at the Company's option to Libor plus 150 basis points,  or
the  bank's  prime  rate.  The loan has a five year term and is payable in equal
monthly principal payments of $200,000.

   In May 1996,  the Company  entered into an interest rate swap  agreement with
the agent bank of the  syndicate of  commercial  banks  providing  the Company's
credit  facility.  The swap agreement has the effect of fixing the interest rate
on $11.1  million of term debt to 7.32% from a floating rate of Libor plus 1.1%.
The Company is exposed to credit loss in the event of  nonperformance  under the
interest rate swap agreement by the agent bank, however,  such nonperformance is
not anticipated.



                                         Page 18 of 42

<PAGE>



   In December 1996, the revolving  credit portion of the facility was increased
from $30.0  million to $35.0  million.  Borrowings  under the  revolving  credit
portion of the facility  and the 1996 Term Loan are subject to a borrowing  base
computation  equal  to  80%  of  qualified  receivables  and  50%  of  qualified
inventories,  as  defined.  The credit  facility  is secured by the stock of the
Company's   subsidiaries   and  first   priority  liens  on  the  Company's  and
subsidiaries  assets,  including  accounts  receivable,  inventory and all other
tangible  or  intangible  property.  At  December  27,  1997,  the  Company  had
borrowings  of $26.0  million  under the term loans and $18.5  million under the
revolving  facility  and has  $16.5  million  of  borrowing  capacity  under the
revolving facility (see Note 5).

   Industrial  Revenue Bonds.  Construction  of the Company's  Warsaw,  Kentucky
facility in 1990 was funded by the Bonds.  The Bonds bear  interest at an annual
rate of 4% payable monthly and require annual principal  payments of $300,000 or
$350,000 in alternating years with the final payment due in July, 2009.

   Capitalized Leases.  The Company's leases for its Pennsylvania and Georgia 
facilities are recorded as capitalized leases in the Company's financial state-
ments.

   Foreign Currency  Fluctuations.  In 1997,  approximately 40% of the Company's
products  were  purchased  from a variety of  foreign  countries.  The  products
generally  are  purchased  through  purchase  orders  with  the  purchase  price
specified in U.S.  dollars.  Accordingly,  the Company does not have exposure to
fluctuation  in  the  relationship   between  the  dollar  and  various  foreign
currencies  between the time of execution of the purchase  order and payment for
the  product.  However,  to the  extent  that the dollar  decreases  in value to
foreign  currencies  in the future,  the price of the product in dollars for new
purchase orders may increase. The Company attempts to lessen the impact of these
currency fluctuations by resourcing its purchases to other countries.

Year 2000 Compliance

   The efficient operation of the Company's business is dependent in part on its
computer software programs and operating systems  ("Programs").  The Company has
been  evaluating  its  Programs  to  identify  potential  Year  2000  compliance
problems.  This  evaluation  has led to the  selection and  implementation  of a
comprehensive  enterprise  resource  planning package and related programs ("New
System")  expected to be  operational  by the second  quarter of 1998.  This New
System will be used in several  key areas of the  company's  business  including
inventory purchasing and management,  production planning, forecasting, pricing,
sales,  shipping and  financial  reporting  and will replace the majority of the
Company's  current  Programs.  Those Programs not replaced by the New System are
also being evaluated for Year 2000 compliance and appropriate  adjustments  have
been or will be made to bring them into compliance  either through  modification
or replacement.

   Based on present  information,  the Company  believes that it will be able to
achieve Year 2000  compliance  through a combination of  installation of the New
System and  modification to other Programs,  however,  no assurance can be given
that these efforts will be successful.  The Company  expects that the investment
in capital  expenditures to implement the New System will be approximately  $3.5
million  ($2.2  million  incurred as of December 27, 1997) and that the expenses
associated with modification of other Programs will not be material.

   Further,  in the event that any of the  Company's  significant  suppliers  or
customers  do not  successfully  and timely  achieve Year 2000  compliance,  the
Company's business operations could be adversely affected.

Impact of Inflation

   The Company has not  generally  been  adversely  affected by  inflation.  The
Company believes that price increases  resulting from inflation  generally could
be passed on to its  customers,  since prices charged by the Company are not set
by long-term contracts.




                                         Page 19 of 42

<PAGE>



Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Statements

   Certain  statements  periodically  made by or on  behalf of the  Company  and
certain  statements   contained  herein  including  statements  in  Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation; certain
statements contained in Business,  such as statements regarding litigation;  and
certain  other  statements  contained  herein  regarding  matters  that  are not
historical fact are forward  looking  statements (as such term is defined in the
Securities  Act  of  1933),  and  because  such  statements  involve  risks  and
uncertainties,  actual  results may differ  materially  from those  expressed or
implied by such forward looking statements. Factors that cause actual results to
differ  materially  include but are not limited to those  factors  discussed  in
"Business - Investment Considerations."

Item 8.  Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

   The  financial  statement  schedules  of the Company that are filed with this
Report on Form 10-K are listed in Item 14(a)(2), Part IV, of this Report.


                            Report of Independent Public Accountants

To R & B, Inc.:

We have audited the  accompanying  consolidated  balance  sheets of R&B, Inc. (a
Pennsylvania  corporation) and subsidiaries as of December 27, 1997 and December
28, 1996 and the related consolidated statements of income, shareholders' equity
and cash flows for each of the three  years in the  period  ended  December  27,
1997.  These  financial  statements  are  the  responsibility  of the  Company's
management.  Our  responsibility  is to express  an  opinion on these  financial
statements based on our audits.

We  conducted  our  audits  in  accordance  with  generally   accepted  auditing
standards.  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement.  An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements.  An audit also includes
assessing the  accounting  principles  used and  significant  estimates  made by
management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion,  the financial  statements  referred to above present fairly, in
all material  respects,  the  consolidated  financial  position of R&B, Inc. and
subsidiaries as of December 27, 1997 and December 28, 1996 and the  consolidated
results of their  operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in
the period ended  December 27,  1997,  in  conformity  with  generally  accepted
accounting principles.


                                                Arthur Andersen LLP



Philadelphia, PA
February 19, 1998








                                         Page 20 of 42

<PAGE>



<TABLE>

                                   R&B, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

                               CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME



<CAPTION>

                                                       For the Year Ended
                                         ----------------------------------------------
                                           December 27,   December 28,  December 30,
(in thousands, except per share data)           1997        1996           1995
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<S>                                              <C>            <C>            <C>     
Net Sales                                        $153,046       $146,952       $113,826
Cost of goods sold                                 93,032         90,892         69,713
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         Gross profit                              60,014         56,060         44,113
Selling, general and administrative expenses       45,230         42,816         33,658
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         Income from operations                    14,784         13,244         10,455
Interest expense, net                               4,205          4,305          3,580
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         Income before taxes                       10,579          8,939          6,875
Provision for taxes                                 3,865          3,277          2,442
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         Net Income                               $ 6,714        $ 5,662        $ 4,433
=======================================================================================
Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share              $  0.83        $  0.71        $  0.56
=======================================================================================
Average Shares Outstanding                          8,043          7,997          7,978
=======================================================================================

</TABLE>


     The accompanying Notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial
Statements.






                                         Page 21 of 42

<PAGE>

<TABLE>



                                   R&B, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

                                   CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

<CAPTION>

                                                      December 27,      December 28,
 (in thousands, except share data)                         1997              1996
- --------------------------------------------------- ----------------- -----------------
<S>                                                          <C>              <C>         
Assets
Current Assets:
   Cash and cash equivalents                                 $  1,601          $    923
   Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful
     accounts and customer credits of $7,214 and $11,305       37,536            35,134
  Inventories                                                  38,264            41,652
  Deferred income taxes                                         1,186             2,748
  Prepaids and other current assets                             1,461               606
- --------------------------------------------------- ----------------- -----------------
     Total current assets                                      80,048            81,063
- --------------------------------------------------- ----------------- -----------------
Property, Plant and Equipment, net                             16,382            14,567
Intangible Assets                                              29,747            30,850
Other Assets                                                    2,530             2,490
- --------------------------------------------------- ----------------- -----------------
      Total                                                  $128,707          $128,970
=================================================== ================= =================

Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
Current Liabilities:
  Current portion of long-term debt                          $  6,611          $  6,066
  Accounts payable                                              8,982             7,146
  Accrued compensation                                          2,923             2,220
  Other accrued liabilities                                     2,923             2,263
- --------------------------------------------------- ----------------- -----------------
    Total current liabilities                                  21,439            17,695
Long-Term Debt                                                 44,336            56,248
Deferred Income Taxes                                           1,770               858
Commitments and Contingencies  (Note 10)
Shareholders' Equity:
   Common stock, par value $.01; authorized
     25,000,000 shares; issued 8,066,543 and 8,026,254             81                80
  Additional paid-in capital                                   30,221            29,943
  Retained earnings                                            30,860            24,146
    Total shareholders' equity                                 61,162            54,169
- --------------------------------------------------- ----------------- -----------------
      Total                                                  $128,707          $128,970
=================================================== ================= =================
</TABLE>

    The accompanying Notes are an integral part of these Consolidated  Financial
Statements.





                                         Page 22 of 42

<PAGE>


<TABLE>


                                   R&B, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

                         CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY


<CAPTION>

                                           Common Stock
                                      -----------------------
                                                                 Additional
                                        Shares        Par         Paid-In        Retained
(in thousands, except share data)       Issued       Value        Capital        Earnings        Total
- ------------------------------------  -----------  ----------  -------------- -------------- --------------
<S>                 <C> <C>             <C>               <C>         <C>            <C>            <C>    
Balance at December 31, 1994            7,958,478         $80         $29,507        $14,051        $43,638
Common stock issued to
  Employee Stock Purchase Plan                710           -               4              -              4
Common stock issued to
  401(k) Retirement Plan                   23,373           -             146              -            146
Net income                                      -           -               -          4,433          4,433
Balance at December 30, 1995            7,982,561          80          29,657         18,484         48,221
Common stock issued to
  Employee Stock Purchase Plan                604           -               3              -              3
Common stock issued to
  401(k) Retirement Plan                   39,464           -             261              -            261
Shares issued under                         3,625           -              22              -             22
  Incentive Stock Plan
Net income                                      -           -               -          5,662          5,662
Balance at December 28, 1996            8,026,254          80          29,943         24,146         54,169
Common stock issued to
  Employee Stock Purchase Plan                717           -               1              -              1
Common stock issued to
  401(k) Retirement Plan                   39,377           1             277              -            278
Shares issued under
  Incentive Stock Plan                        195           -               -              -              -
Net income                                      -           -               -          6,714          6,714
Balance at December 27, 1997          8,066,543110        $81         $30,221        $30,860        $61,162
====================================  ===========  ==========  ============== ============== ==============
</TABLE>

     The accompanying Notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial
Statements.




                                         Page 23 of 42

<PAGE>


<TABLE>

                                   R&B, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

                              CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

<CAPTION>

                                                                         For the Year Ended
                                                         -------------------------------------------------
                                                           December 27,    December 28,     December 30,
(in thousands)                                                 1997             1996            1995
- -------------------------------------------------------- ---------------- --------------- ----------------
<S>                                                                <C>             <C>              <C>   
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income                                                         $6,714          $5,662           $4,433
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by
  (used in)operating activities:
   Depreciation and amortization                                    4,258           4,422            3,806
   Provision for doubtful accounts                                    417             519              467
   Provision for deferred income tax                                2,474            (715)            (462)
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:
    Accounts receivable                                            (2,819)        (11,081)             190
    Inventories                                                     3,388          (3,758)          (4,145)
    Prepaids and other current assets                                (855)            991             (171)
    Other assets                                                     (499)           (484)            (985)
    Accounts payable                                                1,836           1,760           (1,880)
    Other accrued liabilities                                       1,363             811            1,396
- -------------------------------------------------------- ---------------- --------------- ----------------
       Cash provided by (used in) operating activities             16,277          (1,873)           2,649
- -------------------------------------------------------- ---------------- --------------- ----------------
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
   Property, plant and equipment additions                         (4,511)         (3,766)          (2,218)
   Short-term investments                                               -               -              600
   Business acquisitions                                                -          (5,228)         (41,835)
- -------------------------------------------------------- ---------------- --------------- ----------------
      Cash used in investing activities                            (4,511)         (8,994)         (43,453)
- -------------------------------------------------------- ---------------- --------------- ----------------
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
   Net repayment or proceeds from revolving credit                 (5,350)          5,300           18,550
   Proceeds from term loans                                             -          12,000           25,000

   Repayment of term loans and capitalized lease obligations       (6,017)         (7,043)          (2,071)
   Proceeds from common stock issuances                               279             286              150
- -------------------------------------------------------- ---------------- --------------- ----------------
       Cash (used in) provided by financing activities            (11,088)         10,543           41,629
- -------------------------------------------------------- ---------------- --------------- ----------------
Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents                  678            (324)             825
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Beginning of Year                          923           1,247              422
- -------------------------------------------------------- ---------------- --------------- ----------------
Cash and Cash Equivalents, End of Year                            $ 1,601           $ 923        $   1,247
======================================================== ================ =============== ================
Supplemental Cash Flow Information
    Cash paid for interest expense                                 $3,627          $3,740           $3,376
    Cash paid for income taxes                                     $3,068          $3,702           $3,269
</TABLE>
  
  The accompanying Notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial
  Statements.




                                        Page 24 of 42

<PAGE>



                                  R&B, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

                          Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
                                      December 27, 1997


1.  Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

         R&B, Inc. (the  "Company")  is  principally  engaged in the business of
selling a broad range of "hard-to-find" replacement auto parts and fasteners for
the automotive  aftermarket to retailers,  wholesalers and others for use in the
repair and maintenance of automobiles and trucks.

         The Company operates on a fifty-two,  fifty-three week period ending on
the last Saturday of the calendar year.

         Principles of  Consolidation - The  consolidated  financial  statements
include  the  accounts of the Company  and its  wholly-owned  subsidiaries.  All
material   intercompany  accounts  and  transactions  have  been  eliminated  in
consolidation.

         Use of  Estimates  in the  Preparation  of  Financial  Statements - The
preparation  of financial  statements  in  accordance  with  generally  accepted
accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that
affect  the  reported  amounts  of assets  and  liabilities  and  disclosure  of
contingent  assets and  liabilities at the date of the financial  statements and
the  reported  amounts of revenues  and expenses  during the  reporting  period.
Actual results could differ from those estimates.

         Statements of Cash Flows - The Company considers all highly liquid debt
instruments  with  original  maturities  of  three  months  or  less  to be cash
equivalents.

         Inventories  -  Inventories  are stated at the lower of average cost or
market.

         Property and Depreciation - Property,  plant and equipment are recorded
at cost and  depreciated  over their  estimated  useful lives,  which range from
three to fifteen years, using the straight-line  method for financial  statement
reporting purposes and accelerated  methods for income tax purposes.  Properties
under capitalized  leases are amortized over the related lease terms (15 years).
The costs of  maintenance  and repairs are  expensed as  incurred.  Renewals and
betterments are capitalized.

         Intangible   Assets  -  The  Company  adopted  Statement  of  Financial
Accounting  Standards  No. 121 (SFAS 121),  "Accounting  for the  Impairment  of
Long-lived  Assets  and  Long-lived  Assets  to be  Disposed  Of"  in  1995.  In
connection  with the adoption of SFAS 121, it is the Company's  policy to review
goodwill and other intangible assets for possible  impairment whenever events or
changes in  circumstances  indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not
be  recoverable.  If such review  indicates that the carrying amount of goodwill
and other intangible  assets is not  recoverable,  it is the Company's policy to
reduce the  carrying  amount of such assets to fair value.  The adoption of SFAS
121 had no impact on the Company's financial position or results of operations.

         Intangible  assets  consist  of  goodwill,  patents  and a  non-compete
covenant.  Goodwill is amortized  over a period of 40 years with patents and the
non-compete covenant amortized over the specific life of each asset. At December
27,  1997,  goodwill  was  $28.3  million,  patents  were $1.3  million  and the
non-compete  covenant was $0.2  million.  Amortization  of these assets was $1.1
million in 1997 and 1996, and $0.8 million in 1995.



                                        Page 25 of 42

<PAGE>



         Other Assets - Other assets consist of credits  associated with certain
customer  multi-year  sales  arrangements  which are  capitalized  and amortized
against  current  and future  sales;  costs  incurred  for the  preparation  and
printing  of  product   catalogs  which  are   capitalized  and  amortized  upon
distribution;  and deferred  financing costs which are capitalized and amortized
over the term of the related financing agreement.

         Income  Taxes - Income  taxes  include  federal  and state  taxes  with
deferred tax benefits and liabilities arising from temporary differences between
financial and tax reporting.

         Revenue  Recognition - The Company  records sales when its products are
shipped.  A provision is recorded for anticipated  returns or allowances,  based
primarily on historical experience and current estimates.

         Earnings  Per  Share  - The  Company  adopted  Statement  of  Financial
Accounting  Standards  No. 128 (SFAS  128),  "Earnings  Per  Share" in 1997.  In
conformity  with SFAS 128, the Company has included  basic and diluted  earnings
per  share on the face of the  Statements  of Income  for each  year  presented.
Employee stock options had no impact on earnings per share.



2.   Inventories

         Inventories  include the cost of  material,  freight,  direct labor and
overhead utilized in the processing of the Company's products.  Inventories were
as follows:


                        December 27,       December 28,
(in thousands)              1997               1996
- --------------------- -----------------  -----------------
Bulk product                    $21,800            $19,365
Finished product                 12,737             16,907
Packaging materials               3,727              5,380
- --------------------- -----------------  -----------------
Total                           $38,264            $41,652
===================== =================  =================



















                                        Page 26 of 42

<PAGE>



3.   Property, Plant  and Equipment

         Property, plant and equipment consist of the following:


                                         December 27,         December 28,
(in thousands)                                1997                 1996
- ----------------------------------- ----------------- --- ----------------
Property under
  capitalized leases                           $4,430               $4,430
Buildings                                       7,007                7,007
Machinery, equipment and
   tooling                                      9,963                8,985
Furniture,  fixtures and
   leasehold improvements                       1,646                1,418
Computer and other
  office equipment                              7,232                3,932
- ----------------------------------- ----------------- --- ----------------
Total                                          30,278               25,772
Less-accumulated  depreciation               (13,896)              (11,205)
- ----------------------------------- ----------------- --- ----------------
Property, plant and equipment, net            $16,382              $14,567
=================================== ================= === ================


4.   Acquisitions

         Dorman - In January  1995,  the Company  acquired  the Dorman  Products
Division of SDI Operating  Partners,  L.P.. Dorman is one of the nation's oldest
suppliers of automotive  aftermarket  parts and  fasteners  with annual sales in
1994 of approximately $37.0 million.  The Company accounted for this acquisition
using the purchase  method of  accounting,  which  resulted in the  recording of
goodwill of $26.3 million.

         The  acquisition was effected by the payment of cash  consideration  in
the  amount  of  approximately  $38.5  million  and the  assumption  of  certain
liabilities,  including  approximately  $5.0 million in Industrial Revenue Bonds
("Bonds")  used to finance the  construction  of Dorman's  warehouse  and office
facility.  Pursuant  to the Asset  Purchase  Agreement,  the  purchase  price is
subject to adjustment  based upon changes in Dorman's balance sheet between June
30, 1994 and December  31, 1994.  The Company has made a claim to SDI under this
provision.  In  addition,  a  complaint  has been filed  against SDI for damages
resulting from, among other things, an alleged breach of various representations
and warranties contained in the Asset Purchase Agreement.

         Cosmos - In August 1995, the Company acquired the outstanding common 
stock of Cosmos International,  Inc.,  a privately held  supplier of  protective
boots for the constant  velocity joints on front-wheel  drive vehicles,  located
in Minnesota. The  Company  paid  approximately  $3.6  million in cash.  The  
acquisition  was accounted  for by the  purchase  method,  which  resulted  in 
the  recording  of goodwill and other intangible assets of $2.5 million.

         MPI - In January  1996,  the Compay  acquired the assets of Motor Power
Industries  Corporation and subsidiary  ("MPI").  MPI is a national  supplier of
auto parts to car dealers,  auto salvage yards,  specialty  rebuilders and niche
markets.  MPI was acquired with the payment of cash  consideration in the amount
of


                                        Page 27 of 42

<PAGE>



approximately $5.2 million and the assumption of certain liabilities,  including
approximately $2.3 million in the assumption of bank debt. The Company accounted
for this  acquisition  using the purchase method of accounting which resulted in
the recording of goodwill of $3.9 million.


5.  Long-Term Debt

      Long-term  debt  consists  of  borrowings  under bank  credit  facilities,
industrial revenue bonds and capitalized lease obligations as follows:


                                     December 27,        December 28,
 (in thousands)                           1997                1996
- --------------------------------- ------------------- -------------------
Bank credit facility -
    1995 Term Loan                            $18,000             $21,000
    1996 Term Loan                              8,000              10,400
    Revolving credit                           18,500              23,850
Industrial revenue bonds                        3,836               4,138
Capitalized lease obligations                   2,611               2,926
- --------------------------------- ------------------- -------------------
    Total                                      50,947              62,314
Less: Current portion                         (6,611)             (6,066)
- --------------------------------- ------------------- -------------------
    Total long-term debt                      $44,336             $56,248
================================= =================== ===================


      Bank Credit  Facility - In January 1995,  the Company  expanded its credit
facility to $60.0  million from a syndicate  of  commercial  banks  comprised of
CoreStates  Bank, N.A.  (agent),  The Fifth Third Bank N.A. and a third bank who
was replaced by National City Bank in 1997.  The credit  facility  consists of a
term portion of $25.0 million (1995 Term Loan),  a revolving  credit  portion of
$30.0 million, and a letter of credit portion of $5.0 million used to secure the
Bonds. The term portion of the facility bears interest at a floating rate equal,
at the Company's  option,  to Libor plus 110 basis points,  or CoreStates  Bank,
N.A.'s prime rate,  has a seven-year  term and requires  graduated  amortization
payments in the amount of $3.5 million in 1998  increasing  by $0.5 million each
year  thereafter  with a final  payment of $6.0 million in 2001.  The  revolving
credit portion bears interest at a floating rate equal, at the Company's option,
to Libor plus 85 basis  points,  or  CoreStates  Bank,  N.A.'s  prime rate,  and
expires January 31, 2001. In April 1996, the Company amended its credit facility
to include a new $12.0  million  term loan (1996 Term Loan) with  interest  at a
floating rate equal, at the Company's option, to Libor plus 150 basis points, or
the  bank's  prime  rate.  The loan has a five year term and is payable in equal
monthly principal payments of $0.2 million.

      In May 1996, the Company entered into an interest rate swap agreement with
the agent bank of the  syndicate of  commercial  banks  providing  the Company's
credit  facility.  The swap agreement has the effect of fixing the interest rate
on $11.1  million of term debt to 7.32%  from a floating  rate of Libor plus 110
basis  points.   The  Company  is  exposed  to  credit  loss  in  the  event  of
nonperformance  under the  interest  rate  swap  agreement  by the  agent  bank,
however, such nonperformance is not anticipated.



                                        Page 28 of 42

<PAGE>



      In  December  1996,  the  revolving  credit  portion of the  facility  was
increased  from $30.0 million to $35.0 million.  Borrowings  under the revolving
credit portion of the facility and the 1996 Term Loan are subject to a borrowing
base  computation  equal to 80% of  qualified  receivables  and 50% of qualified
inventories,  as  defined.  The credit  facility  is secured by the stock of the
Company's  subsidiaries  and  first  priority  liens  on the  Company's  assets,
including  accounts  receivable,  inventory and all other tangible or intangible
property.

      The  term  loan  agreement,   as  amended,   requires  that  the  original
shareholders  must  maintain at least 25%  ownership of the Company and maintain
control as that term is defined in Rule 12b-2 of the  Securities Act of 1934, as
amended,  as well as meet certain  financial  covenants such as minimum tangible
net worth and minimum debt to lease payment service rates.

      The average amount  outstanding was $50.0 million and $52.8 million during
1997 and 1996,  respectively.  The  maximum  outstanding  during  1997 was $58.4
million and $60.5 million during 1996.

      Industrial  Revenue Bonds - In connection  with the acquisition of Dorman,
the Company assumed certain  liabilities,  including balances  outstanding under
Industrial Revenue Bonds (see Note 4). The Bonds bear interest at an annual rate
of 4% payable  monthly  and  require  annual  principal  payments of $300,000 or
$350,000 in  alternating  years with the final  payment due in July,  2009.  The
Bonds are  secured by the  Company's  warehouse  and office  facility in Warsaw,
Kentucky.

      Capitalized Lease Obligations - The Company's capitalized lease obligation
for its primary operating facility is with a partnership  related to the Company
by common  ownership ( "Partnership  1") (see Note 7) and is payable  monthly in
installments of $47,500  including  interest  imputed at 13.96% through December
2002.  The lease  provides for  contingent  rental  payments to Partnership 1 in
amounts that, when added to the annual capitalized lease payments, do not exceed
the fair market rental rate of the facility.  The contingent rental payments are
determined on an annual basis to  approximate  the change in the Consumer  Price
Index  and are  payable  only to the  extent  that  the  Company  has  available
sufficient  pre-tax income in the preceding fiscal year to support the increase.
The net book value of the assets under this  capitalized  lease was $1.2 million
at December 27, 1997 and $1.4 million at December 28, 1996 (see Note 10).

      In January 1990, the Company entered into a capitalized  lease arrangement
for  certain  office and  warehouse  facilities  in Georgia  with a  partnership
related  to the  Company by common  ownership  ("Partnership  2").  The lease is
payable through January 2005 at $9,600 per month including  interest  imputed at
10.97%. The lease also provides for an annual adjustment in an amount which will
approximate  the change in the Consumer  Price Index.  The net book value of the
assets  under this  capitalized  lease was  $399,000  at  December  27, 1997 and
$456,000 at December 28, 1996 (see Note 10).

      Aggregate  annual  principal  payments  applicable to long-term debt as of
December 27, 1997 are as follows:



(in thousands)
 1998                $6,611
 1999                 7,111
 2000                 7,720
 2001                26,138
 2002                   966
Thereafter            2,401
- ---------------------------
Total               $50,947
===========================

                                  Page 29 of 42
<PAGE>


      The following is a schedule of  approximate  annual  future  minimum lease
payments under the capitalized  leases with  Partnership 1 and Partnership 2 for
the  Company's  primary  operating  facility and for the  additional  office and
warehouse facility  (exclusive of contingent rental payments) as of December 27,
1997:

 (in thousands)
1998                                                        $685
1999                                                         686
2000                                                         685
2001                                                         686
2002                                                         685
Thereafter                                                   241
- --------------------------------------------- ------------------
Total payments                                             3,668
Less - amounts  representing interest                     (1,057)
- --------------------------------------------- ------------------
Total principal  payments                                 $2,611
============================================= ==================


6.  Operating Lease Commitments and Rent Expense

      The Company leases certain equipment and automobiles  under  noncancelable
operating leases.  Approximate future minimum rental payments under these leases
are summarized as follows:


 (in thousands)
1998                $ 489
1999                   20
2000                    5
- ---------  --------------
Total               $ 514
=========  ==============

      Rent expense,  which includes  rental  adjustment  payments and contingent
rentals  paid to  related  parties  (see  Notes 5 and 7) of $0.6  million,  $0.6
million and $0.5 million in 1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively,  was $1.3 million
in 1997, $1.5 million in 1996 and $1.2 million in 1995.

7.   Related Party Transactions

      The Company has entered into capital  leases for two operating  facilities
with  Partnership  1 and  Partnership  2 (see Notes 5 and 10).  The  Company has
guaranteed the mortgages of Partnership 1 and Partnership 2 on these facilities.
These  guarantees at December 27, 1997 were  approximately  $2.5 million.  Total
interest expense on these capitalized  leases was $370,000 in 1997,  $411,000 in
1996 and $442,000 in 1995.

      The Company also has sales and purchases with companies  related by common
control or ownership. Such transactions are as follows:



                                         Page 30 of 42

<PAGE>




 (in thousands)        Sales        Purchases
- --------------- ------------ ----------------
1997                    $259              $30
1996                     381               12
1995                     384               16



8. Income Taxes

      The components of the income tax provision are as follows:


 (in thousands)                   1997              1996             1995
- --------------------------- ----------------- ---------------- ----------------
Federal:
  Current                              $1,341           $3,845           $2,544
  Deferred                              2,384            (689)            (412)
- --------------------------- ----------------- ---------------- ----------------
      Subtotal                          3,725            3,156            2,132
- --------------------------- ----------------- ---------------- ----------------
State:
  Current                                  50              147              360
  Deferred                                 90             (26)             (50)
- --------------------------- ----------------- ---------------- ----------------
      Subtotal                            140              121              310
- --------------------------- ----------------- ---------------- ----------------
      Total                            $3,865           $3,277           $2,442
=========================== ================= ================ ================

      The  following is a  reconciliation  of income taxes at the  statutory tax
rate to the Company's effective rate:


                                         1997         1996         1995
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Federal taxes at statutory rate              34.0%        34.0%       34.0%
State taxes, net of Federal tax benefit       3.0%         3.3%        2.4%
Benefit of contributed property             (0.5%)       (0.6%)      (0.9%)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Effective tax rate                           36.5%        36.7%       35.5%
===========================================================================










                                         Page 31 of 42

<PAGE>



             Deferred  income  taxes  result  from  timing  differences  in  the
recognition of revenue and expense for tax and financial statement purposes. The
sources of temporary differences are as follows:



                                           December 27,        December 28,
 (in thousands)                                1997                1996
- --------------------------------------  ------------------- -------------------
Assets:
    Inventories                                        $846                $960
    Accounts receivables                              (492)               1,588
    Capitalized leases                                  394                 397
    Accrued expenses                                    438                 314
- --------------------------------------  ------------------- -------------------
        Gross deferred assets                         1,186               3,259
- --------------------------------------  ------------------- -------------------
Liabilities:
    Depreciation                                        392                 410
    Goodwill                                          1,300                 843
    Other                                                78                 116
- --------------------------------------  ------------------- -------------------
        Gross deferred liabilities                    1,770               1,369
- --------------------------------------  ------------------- -------------------
    Net deferred (liability) asset                  ($ 584)              $1,890
======================================  =================== ===================


9.  Business Segments

      During 1997,  two customers each accounted for 10% or more of sales and in
the  aggregate  accounted for 24% of sales.  During 1996 and 1995,  one customer
accounted for  approximately  14% of sales.  Except for the lift support product
line, which accounted for  approximately  10% and 11% of gross sales in 1996 and
1995  respectively,  no other product line accounted for more than 10% of sales.
Export sales,  primarily to Canada and Holland in 1997,  1996 and 1995 were $3.9
million, $3.4 million and $2.4 million, respectively.


10.   Commitments and Contingencies


      Environmental  Matters  - The  Company's  primary  operating  facility  in
Colmar,  Pennsylvania,  which is leased from Partnership 1, is located within an
area  identified by the  Environmental  Protection  Agency ("EPA") as a possible
source or location of volatile organic chemical contamination. In November 1990,
the EPA sent a general  notice  letter to certain  present and former owners and
operators of properties within this area, informing them that they may be liable
under the Comprehensive  Environmental Response,  Compensation and Liability Act
with  respect  to  this  contamination.  As a  current  operator  of the  Colmar
property,  the Company received such a general notice letter. The Company may be
deemed  jointly  and  severally  liable,  together  with all  other  potentially
responsible  parties,  for (i) the costs of performing a study of the nature and
extent of the  contamination and the possible  alternatives for remediation,  if
any, as well as (ii) the costs of  effectuating  that  remediation.  The Company
revised its lease agreement for its Colmar facility  effective  December 1990 to
provide that, as between the Company and Partnership 1,  Partnership 1 will bear
any environmental liability and all related expenses,  including legal expenses,
incurred by the Company or


                                         Page 32 of 42

<PAGE>



Partnership 1 as a result of matters  which arose other than from  activities of
the Company.  The Company believes that the ultimate outcome of this matter will
not have a material adverse impact upon the financial position of the Company.

      Shareholder  Agreement  - A  shareholder  agreement  was  entered  into in
September  1990 and subse quently  amended in December 1992 and September  1993.
Under the agreement,  each of Richard Berman, Steven Berman, Jordan Berman, Marc
Berman and Fred Berman has  granted the others of them rights of first  refusal,
exercisable  on a pro rata basis or in such other  proportions as the exercising
shareholders  may agree,  to purchase  shares of the common stock of the Company
which any of them, or upon their deaths their  respective  estates,  proposes to
sell to third parties. The Company has agreed with these shareholders that, upon
their deaths, to the extent that any of their shares are not purchased by any of
these surviving  shareholders and may not be sold without registration under the
Securities  Exchange Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"),  the Company will
use its best efforts to cause those shares to be registered  under the 1933 Act.
The  expenses  of any  such  registration  will be borne  by the  estate  of the
deceased shareholder.

      Purchase  Commitments - At December 27, 1997, the Company had  commitments
to purchase inventory of approximately $1.6 million.  In conjunction  therewith,
the Company has entered into irrevocable  commercial letter of credit agreements
with a bank.  As  collateral  for the  letters of credit,  the bank has the same
security,  guarantees and requires  compliance with the same covenants as on the
Company's debt (see Note 5).

      Leases - In accordance with the contingent  rental provisions of the lease
agreement for the Company's primary operating  facility (see Note 5), management
expects that,  effective  January 1998, the total monthly lease payments will be
increased from approximately $87,000 to approximately $89,000.






11.  Capital Stock

      Undesignated  Stock - The  Company has  75,000,000  shares  authorized  of
undesignated  capital stock for future  issuance.  The  designation,  rights and
preferences of such shares will be determined by the Board of Directors.

      Incentive Stock Plan - In September 1990, the Board of Directors  approved
an  incentive  stock plan to issue as  options,  up to 322,500  shares of common
stock, to employees,  directors,  consultants and advisors of the Company or its
affiliates  with no one  "individual"  to receive more than 10% of the total. In
May 1997,  the  shareholders  approved  an  increase  in the number of shares to
422,500. All options shall be granted within ten years of the plan adoption date
with the  exercise  price and period  determined  by the Board of Directors on a
discretionary  basis but the option  price per share shall not be less than 100%
of the fair market  value of a share on the date of grant (not less than 110% if
granted to an  individual  possessing  more than 10% of the voting rights of the
Company's  outstanding  capital stock).  No more than $100,000 of options may be
exercised by one  individual in any calendar year. The following is a summary of
transactions under the plan:









                                         Page 33 of 42

<PAGE>

<TABLE>


<CAPTION>

                                                       Number of Shares
                                 -------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                   Available
                                  Option Price                                    for Future
                                    Per Share      Outstanding     Exercisable      Grants
- -------------------------------- ---------------  -------------- --------------- -------------


<S>                                  <C>                  <C>             <C>          <C>    
Balance at December 31, 1994         $8.875               13,000          13,000       309,500
19945
   Became exercisable                                          -          10,500             -
   Options granted                  5.75-7.75             22,250               -      (22,250)
- -------------------------------- ---------------  -------------- --------------- -------------
Balance at December 30, 1995       5.75-8.875             35,250          23,500       287,250
   Became exercisable                                          -           9,750             -
   Exercised                       5.75-6.125            (3,625)         (3,625)             -
   Canceled                        6.75-8.875            (4,000)               -         4,000
   Options granted                 6.75 -7.50            211,000               -     (211,000)
- -------------------------------- ---------------  -------------- --------------- -------------
Balance at December 28, 1996       5.75 - 8.875          238,625          29,625        80,250
   Increase in available shares                                -               -       100,000
   Became exercisable                                          -          44,595             -
   Exercised                           7.75                (195)           (195)             -
   Canceled                        7.00 - 8.00          (31,805)               -        31,805
   Options granted                 7.25 - 9.50           125,500               -     (125,500)
- -------------------------------- ---------------  -------------- --------------- -------------
Balance at December 27, 1997      $5.75 - $9.50          332,125          74,025        86,555
================================ ===============  ============== =============== =============
</TABLE>

      The  Company  applies   Accounting   Principles   Board  Opinion  No.  25,
"Accounting  for Stock  Issued to  Employees",  and related  interpretations  in
accounting  for  this  plan.  Accordingly,  no  compensation  expense  has  been
recognized.  The following  pro forma amounts were  determined as if the Company
had accounted  for its stock options using the fair value method  (Black-Scholes
pricing model).
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


(in thousands except per share amounts)  1997                 1996                  1995
- -------------------------------- -------------------- --------------------- ---------------------

<S>                                     <C>                  <C>                   <C>   
Net income:
    As reported                         $6,714               $5,662                $4,433
    Pro forma                            6,585                5,604                 4,405
Basic and diluted earnings per share:
    As reported                         $0.83                 $0.71                 $0.56
    Pro forma                           $0.82                 $0.70                 $0.55

</TABLE>


      Employee  Stock  Purchase  Plan - In March  1992,  the Board of  Directors
adopted the Employee Stock Purchase Plan which was subsequently  approved by the
shareholders. The Plan permits the granting of options


                                         Page 34 of 42

<PAGE>



to  purchase  up to  300,000  shares of  common  stock by the  employees  of the
Company.  In any given year,  employees  may  purchase up to 4% of their  annual
compensation,  with the option  price set at 85% of the fair market value of the
stock on the date of exercise. All options granted during any year expire on the
last day of the fiscal year.  During 1997,  optionees  had  exercised  rights to
purchase  717  shares  at  prices  from  $6.27 to $8.50  per share for total net
proceeds of $5,600.

      401(k)  Retirement Plan - The Company's 401(k) retirement plan was amended
in 1992 to permit  contributions in cash or kind,  including  Company  qualified
securities.  The Company accrued for a discretionary contribution for 1997 which
will be funded in early 1998 consisting of cash and approximately  17,200 shares
of Company common stock at a value of approximately $170,000. The Company made a
discretionary  contribution  for 1996  consisting  of cash and 39,400  shares of
Company common stock, issued in 1997, at a value of approximately  $278,000 and 
a discretionary contribution for 1995 consisting of cash and 39,500 shares of
stock, issued in 1996, at a value of approximately $261,000.


12.  Subsequent Events

      The  Scan-Tech  Transaction - In January  1998,  the Company  acquired the
outstanding stock of Scan-Tech USA/Sweden AB and related entities ("Scan-Tech").
Headquartered  in Stockholm,  Sweden,  Scan-Tech is a distributor of replacement
automotive  parts,  primarily  Volvo and Saab,  throughout  Europe,  the  United
States,  Russia,  the  Middle  East  and the  Far  East  with  annual  sales  of
approximately $10 million in 1997. The acquisition  was  affected  through the 
payment of $1 million in cash,  350,000
shares of the Company's  common stock and the assumption of certain  liabilities
including  approximately $0.8 million in bank debt. Of the shares,  250,000 will
vest over four years and will be included  in the  computation  of the  purchase
price, and the computation of diluted earnings per share. The remaining  100,000
are subject to performance  criteria and will be included in the  computation of
purchase  price and diluted  earnings  per share as the  criteria  are met.  The
Company  will  account  for  this  acquisition  using  the  purchase  method  of
accounting, which will result in the recording of goodwill of approximately $2.7
million.

      The Champ Transaction - In October 1997, the Company announced that it had
signed a letter of intent  to  acquire  selective  assets  of the  Service  Line
Division  ("Champ")  of Standard  Motor  Products,  Inc. for  approximately  $10
million  representing  the net  asset  value of  inventories.  Headquartered  in
Edwardsville, Kansas, the Service Line Division includes the Champ Service Line,
APS Service  Line and  Pik-A-Nut.  Champ had annual sales of  approximately  $40
million in 1997.  The  transaction is expected to close on June 30, 1998, and is
subject to certain pre-closing conditions and post-closing adjustments.

      The Company has arranged for an  additional  $10 million in term debt from
its bank  syndicate  which it  expects to use to finance  this  acquisition  and
associated  costs.  The new debt,  with interest at Libor plus 130 basis points,
has a  five-year  term and will be payable in equal  quarterly  installments  of
$500,000 beginning in October 1998.













                                         Page 35 of 42

<PAGE>


Supplementary Financial Information
Quarterly Results of Operations:

      The  following  is  a  summary  of  the  unaudited  quarterly  results  of
operations for the years ended December 27, 1997 and December 28, 1996:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


(in thousands, except per shareFirstnQuarter   Second Quarter        Third Quarter    Fourth Quarter
- ------------------------------ --------------- ----------------- --- ---------------- ----------------
                                                                1997
                               -----------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                    <C>               <C>                  <C>              <C>    
Net sales                              $33,299           $40,959              $40,817          $37,971
Income from operations                   2,613             4,604                4,623            2,944
Net income                                 961             2,253                2,330            1,170
Basic and diluted earnings per
share                                     0.12              0.28                 0.29             0.15
                                                                1996
                               -----------------------------------------------------------------------
Net sales                              $32,540           $39,678              $38,529          $36,205
Income from operations                   2,175             4,043                4,271            2,755
Net income                                 763             1,922                2,007              970
Basic and diluted earnings per
share                                     0.10              0.24                 0.25             0.12
</TABLE>

Item 9.  Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and 
         Financial Disclosure.

      None

                                             PART III

Item 10. Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant.

      Information  concerning  the directors of the Company is  incorporated  by
reference to the section entitled "Election of Directors" in the Company's Proxy
Statement for its Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on May 14, 1998.

      Information  concerning executive officers of the Company who are not also
directors is presented in Item 4.1, Part I of this Report on Form 10-K.

Item 11. Executive Compensation.

      Incorporated by reference to the section entitled "Executive  Compensation
and  Transactions"  in the Company's  Proxy  Statement for its Annual Meeting of
Shareholders to be held on May 14, 1998.

Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management.

      Incorporated by reference to the section entitled "Beneficial Ownership of
 Common  Stock" in the  Company's  Proxy  Statement  for its  Annual  Meeting of
 Shareholders to be held on May 14, 1998.



                                           Page 36 of 42

<PAGE>



Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions.

      Incorporated by reference to the section entitled "Executive  Compensation
and  Transactions"  in the Company's  Proxy  Statement for its Annual Meeting of
Shareholders to be held on May 14, 1998.

                                              PART IV

Item 14.  Exhibits, Consolidated Financial Statement Schedules and Reports 
          on Form 8-K.

      (a)(1) Consolidated Financial Statements.The consolidated financial state-
ments of the Company and related documents are listed in Item 8, Part II, of 
this Report on Form 10-K.

             Report of Independent Public Accountants

             Consolidated  Statements of Income for the years ended December 27,
             1997, December 28, 1996 and December 30, 1995

             Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 27, 1997 and 
             December 28, 1996

             Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity for the years ended
             December 27, 1997, December 28, 1996 and December 30, 1995.

             Consolidated  Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December
             27, 1997, December 28, 1996 and December 30, 1995.

             Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

             (a)(2) Consolidated Financial Statement Schedules.  The following 
             consolidated financial statement schedule of the Company and 
             related documents are filed with this Report on Form 10-K:
                                                                            Page

             Report of Independent Public Accountants on Financial Statement 
             Schedule........................................................ 41
             Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts................  42

      (a)(3) Exhibits.

Number        Title

2.1 (1)       Asset Purchase Agreement, dated as of October 5, 1994, between the
              Company and SDI Operating  Partners,  L.P., for the acquisition of
              the Dorman Products Division.

2.1.1 (2)     Amendment to the Asset Purchase Agreement,  dated as of October 5,
              1994,  between the Company and SDI Operating  Partners,  L.P., for
              the acquisition of the Dorman Products Division.

2.1.2 (2)     Exhibit List to the Asset Purchase Agreement,  dated as of October
              5, 1994, between the Company and SDI Operating Partners, L.P., for
              the acquisition of the Dorman Products Division.

3.1 (3)        Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company.


                                           Page 37 of 42

<PAGE>



3.2 (3)       Bylaws of the Company.

4.1 (3)       Specimen Common Stock Certificate of the Company.

4.2 (3)       Shareholders' Agreement, dated September 17, 1990.

4.2.1 (4)     Amendment to Shareholders'  Agreement,  dated December 29, 1992, 
              amending 4.2.

4.2.2 (5)     Amendment to Shareholders' Agreement,  dated September 14, 1993, 
              amending 4.2.

4.2.3 (6)     Amendment to Shareholders' Agreement, dated March 14, 1994, 
              amending 4.2.

10.1 (3)+     Employment  Agreement,  dated  September  17,  1990,  between  the
              Company and Richard Berman.

10.1.1 (3)+   Agreement, dated September 17, 1990, between the Company and 
              Richard Berman, amending 10.1

10.1.2 (5)+   Agreement,  dated  September  13,  1993,  between  the Company and
              Richard Berman, amending 10.1.

10.2 (3)+     Employment  Agreement,  dated September 17, 1990, between the 
              Company and Steven Berman.

10.2.1 (3)+   Letter  Agreement,  dated September 17, 1990,  between the Company
              and Steven Berman, amending 10.2.

10.2.2 (5)+   Agreement,  dated  September  13,  1993,  between  the Company and
              Steven Berman, amending 10.1.

10.3 (3)      Lease,  dated December 1, 1990, between the Company and the Berman
              Real Estate Partnership,  for premises located at 3400 East Walnut
              Street, Colmar, Pennsylvania.

10.3.1 (5)    Amendment to Lease,  dated September 10, 1993, between the Company
              and the Berman Real Estate  Partnership,  for premises  located at
              3400 East Walnut Street, Colmar, Pennsylvania, amending 10.3.

10.3.2 (10)   Assignment of Lease, dated February 24, 1997, between the Company,
              the Berman Real Estate  Partnership  and BREP 1, for the  premises
              located  at  3400  East  Walnut  Street,   Colmar,   Pennsylvania,
              assigning 10.3.

10.4 (3)      Lease,  dated January 3, 1990,  between the Company and the Berman
              Real Estate  Partnership,  for premises  located at 390 Old Bremen
              Road, Carrollton, Georgia.

10.4.1 (5)    Amendment to Lease,  dated September 10, 1993, between the Company
              and the Berman Real Estate  Partnership,  for premises  located at
              390 Old Bremen Road, Carrollton, Georgia, amending 10.4.

10.4.2 (6)    Amendment to Lease,  dated February 17, 1994,  between the Company
              and the Berman Real Estate  Partnership,  for premises  located at
              390 Old Bremen Road, Carrollton, Georgia, amending 10.4.



                                           Page 38 of 42

<PAGE>



10.5 (9)      Amended and Restated Credit Agreement by and Among the Company and
              CoreStates  Bank,  N.A.  for Itself and as Agent,  The Fifth Third
              Bank and NBD Bank dated as of January 1, 1995.

10.6 (3)+     R&B, Inc. 1990  Incentive Stock Plan.

10.6.1 (3)+   Amendment No. 1 to R&B, Inc. 1990 Incentive Stock Plan.

10.6.2 (5)+   Amendment No. 2 to R&B, Inc. 1990 Incentive Stock Plan.

10.7 (4)+     R&B, Inc. 401(k) Retirement Plan and Trust.

10.7.1 (8)+   Amendment No. 1 to the R&B, Inc. 401(k) Retirement Plan and Trust.

10.8 (4)+     R&B, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

21            Subsidiaries of the Company (filed with this report)

24            Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP (filed with this report)

27            Financial Data Schedule (filed with this report)
- -------------------------
+ Management Contracts and Compensatory Plans, Contracts or Arrangements.
1 Incorporated by reference to Form 8-K dated October 12, 1994.
2  Incorporated by reference to Form 8-K dated January 3, 1995.
3   Incorporated   by  reference  to  the  Exhibits  filed  with  the  Company's
Registration  Statement  on Form S-1 and  Amendments  No.  1,  No.  2, and No. 3
thereto (Registration No. 33-37264). 
4 Incorporated by reference to the Exhibits files with the  Company's  Annual  
Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 26, 1992. 
5  Incorporated by reference to the Exhibits  filed with the Company's  
Registration  Statement  on Form  S-1 and  Amendment  No.  1  thereto
(Registration No.  33-68740).  
6 Incorporated by reference to the Exhibits filed
with the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December
25, 1993. 
7  Incorporated  by reference to the Exhibits filed with the Company's
Quarterly  Report  on  Form  10-Q  for the  quarter  ended  March  26,  1994.  
8 Incorporated  by reference to the Exhibits  filed with the  Company's  
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the  quarter  ended June 25,  1994.  
9  Incorporated  by reference to the Exhibits  filed with the Company's  Current
Report on Form 8-K dated January 3, 1995 and filed January 17, 1995. 
10  Incorporated  by reference to the  Exhibits  files with the  Company's  
Annual  Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 28, 1996.

        (b) Reports on Form 8-K.

        None


                                           Page 39 of 42

<PAGE>




                                            SIGNATURES

        Pursuant to the  requirements  of Section 13 or 15(d) of the  Securities
and  Exchange  Act of 1934,  the  registrant  has duly  caused this report to be
signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.


                                         R&B, Inc.

Date: March 27, 1998                     By:   Richard N. Berman
                                         -----------------------
                                          Richard N. Berman, Chairman, President
                                          and Chief Executive Officer


        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of
the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

        Signature               Capacity                      Date

  Richard N. Berman             President, Chief Executive    March 27 , 1998
   Richard N. Berman            Officer, and Chairman of the
                                Board of Directors
                                (principal executive officer)

 Malcolm S. Walter              Chief Financial Officer       March 27, 1998
   Malcolm S. Walter            (principal financial and
                                accounting officer)

 Steven L. Berman               Executive Vice President,     March 27, 1998
   Steven L. Berman             Secretary-Treasurer, and
                                Director



 George L. Bernstein            Director                      March 27, 1998
   George L. Bernstein


 Edgar W. Levin                 Director                      March 27, 1998
   Edgar W. Levin


 John F. Creamer, Jr.           Director                      March 27, 1998
   John F. Creamer, Jr.

 Jack A. Robinson               Director                      March 27, 1998
   Jack A. Robinson



                                           Page 40 of 42

<PAGE>





                              REPORT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
                                  ON FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULE

To R&B, Inc.:

We have audited in accordance with generally  accepted auditing  standards,  the
financial  statements of R&B, Inc. and  subsidiaries  included in this Form 10-K
and have issued our report  thereon dated  February 19, 1998. Our audit was made
for the purpose of forming an opinion on the  statements  taken as a whole.  The
schedule  listed  in  Item  14(a)(2)  is the  responsibility  of  the  Company's
management  and is presented for purposes of complying  with the  Securities and
Exchange  Commission's rules and is not part of the basic financial  statements.
This schedule has been subjected to the audit  procedures  applied in the audits
of the basic  financial  statements  and, in our opinion,  fairly  states in all
material  respects  the  financial  data  required  to be set forth  therein  in
relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole.

                                                   Arthur Andersen LLP

Philadelphia, PA
     February 19, 1998




























                                           Page 41 of 42

<PAGE>


<TABLE>

<CAPTION>

                                             SCHEDULE II
                                  VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS
(in thousands)                                                   For the Year Ended
- ----------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------
                                                   December 27,       December 28,     December 30,
                                                       1997               1996             1995
                                                ------------------  ---------------- ----------------
<S>                                                           <C>               <C>              <C> 
Allowance for doubtful accounts:
     Balance, beginning of period                             $962              $653             $226
     Provision                                                 417               519              467
     Charge-offs                                             (370)             (210)             (40)
- ----------------------------------------------- ------------------  ---------------- ----------------
     Balance, end of period                                 $1,009              $962             $653
=============================================== ==================  ================ ================
Allowance for customer credits:
     Balance, beginning of period                          $10,343            $6,826           $3,429
     Provision                                              23,268            26,427           20,338
     Charge-offs                                          (27,406)          (22,910)         (16,941)
- ----------------------------------------------- ------------------  ---------------- ----------------
     Balance, end of period                                 $6,205           $10,343           $6,826
=============================================== ==================  ================ ================
</TABLE>











                                           Page 42 of 42






                                             Exhibit 21


                                      Subsidiaries of R&B, Inc.


Significant Subsidiaries                           Jurisdiction
- ------------------------                           ------------
RB Distribution, Inc.                              Pennsylvania
RB Management, Inc.                                Pennsylvania
Dorman Products of America, Ltd.                   Kentucky
RB Service Supply, L.P.                            Georgia
RBPEACH, Inc.                                      Delaware
Cosmos International, Inc.                         Minnesota
Motor Power Industries, Inc.                       Delaware






                                           Exhibit Page 1









                                             Exhibit 24






                              CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

To R&B, Inc.:

As independent public accountants, we hereby consent to the incorporation of our
reports dated February 19, 1998 included in R&B, Inc.'s 10-K for the year ended 
December 27, 1997, into the Company's  previously filed Registration Statements 
on Form S-1 (File Nos. 33-52946 and 33-56492).

                              
                                             ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP


Philadelphia, PA
     March 26, 1998







                                           Exhibit Page 2




<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>                                                     5
<MULTIPLIER>                                              1,000
       
<S>                                                 <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                             OTHER
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                   DEC-27-1997
<PERIOD-START>                                      DEC-29-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                        DEC-27-1997
<CASH>                                                    1,601
<SECURITIES>                                                  0
<RECEIVABLES>                                            44,750
<ALLOWANCES>                                             (7,214)
<INVENTORY>                                              38,264
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                         80,048
<PP&E>                                                   30,278
<DEPRECIATION>                                          (13,896)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                          128,707
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                    21,439
<BONDS>                                                  44,336
                                         0
                                                   0
<COMMON>                                                     81
<OTHER-SE>                                               61,081
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                            128,707
<SALES>                                                 153,046
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                        153,046
<CGS>                                                    93,032
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                            45,230
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                              0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                              0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                        4,205
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                          10,579
<INCOME-TAX>                                              3,865
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                       6,714
<DISCONTINUED>                                                0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                               0
<CHANGES>                                                     0
<NET-INCOME>                                              6,714
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                              0.83
<EPS-DILUTED>                                              0.83
        


</TABLE>


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