AL Thompson’s buys Cox Lumber

(CMR) Effective today, 15 September, Cox Lumber Ltd. has been purchased by A. L. Thompson’s and will join the A. L. Thompson’s family of companies, through the acquisition of its Bodden Town retail store and George Town contractor yard.

In a letter announcing this purchase, A.L. Thompson’s said this new company structure does not affect customers’ day-to-day business with A. L. Thompson’s or Cox Lumber, and the points of contact will remain the same.

“Bringing Cox Lumber and A. L. Thompson’s together is a natural step for both businesses and will
allow us to expand our offerings for retail customers, do-it-yourselfers and contractors alike. We are excited about the opportunities this brings for our customers,” the letter stated.

“With our aligned Caymanian family values and a now combined network of suppliers, we are more committed than ever to providing the best customer experience, range of products, and competitive prices, all with the added benefit of two more convenient locations for you to shop from,” the letter continued.

According to the letter, customers’ A. L. Thompson’s and Cox Lumber’s accounts will continue to be managed by their current account managers.  All Cox Lumber employees will be retained. The Tibbetts family of Cox Lumber will retain Tibbetts Lumber Co. and Tibbetts International operating in the United States.

A. L. Thompson’s said the purchase of Cox Lumber will allow the business to better serve an enlarged customer base of Cayman Islands homeowners and contractors through a combined 150 years of retail experience, as well as leverage the companies’ unparalleled networks of suppliers to offer an increased range of products at the best available price points.

It is also expected to allow Cayman Islands homeowners and contractors to benefit from increasing purchasing power and an expanded product selection whilst receiving the same level of personalized customer service they’ve come to know and expect.

“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,” said Al Thompson, President, A. L. Thompson’s.

“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.” 

Mr. Thompson, along with Director, Berna Cummins (née Thompson), MBE, will continue to lead the business through this ongoing transformation and integration and will be supported jointly by A. L. Thompson’s and Cox Lumber’s existing leadership teams.

“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, Executive Chairman, 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. I personally would like to thank our dedicated team and customers for their unwavering support over the past three decades in the Cayman Islands and I am honored to hand Cox Lumber Ltd. over to Mr. Thompson and entrust our customers and team to his service level and care,” he added.

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

To learn more about the history and evolution of these two Caymanian household names, visit www.althompson.com and www.coxlumberltd.com.