(CNS): A.L. Thompson Building Supplies Ltd, the largest hardware merchant in the Cayman Islands, got even bigger last week with the purchase of Cox Lumber Ltd. The new owners have said that all staff at the Cox store in Bodden Town and the merchant yard in George Town will be retained in the merger of the two local family-run companies. The Tibbetts family, the former owners of Cox Lumber, will retain Tibbetts Lumber and Tibbetts International operating in the United States.
 
Al Thompson, the president of the business that bears his name, said the purchase will facilitate an increase in the range of products available at the best price points because of increased purchasing power.

“Bringing A. L. Thompson’s and Cox Lumber together allows us to evolve to meet the demands of the people of the Cayman Islands by combining our Caymanian values and commitment to our customers to create an even better offering,” Thompson said. “I would like to sincerely thank all staff at both businesses for their ongoing efforts to serve our customers over the last 75 years, and I look forward to welcoming our new colleagues from Cox Lumber and expanding the A.L.Thompson’s family further.” 

Thompson and Berna Cummins, the director of the business, will continue to lead it through this ongoing transformation and integration and will be supported by the leadership teams at A.L.Thompson’s and Cox Lumber.
 
“The two businesses are highly complementary, bringing together Cox Lumber’s traditional focus on building materials and supplying contractors and A.L.Thompson’s on home improvements and a wider retail selection,” said Kyle Hooker, the executive chairman of Cox Lumber Ltd.

“We are confident the business built by my grandfather, the late Mr Linton N. Tibbetts, OBE, will continue to grow and prosper under the Thompson family’s leadership. We are excited that the legacy will continue as a wholly owned Caymanian company, a factor that was incredibly important to me in this decision,” he said and thanked the team and customers for their support over the past three decades.

There are no immediate plans to bring the two Cox Lumber locations under the A. L. Thompson’s brand and Thompson said that there would be no changes to the day-to-day operations, staffing and customer accounts.