Kent Building Supplies scoops up Central stores

A familiar name in the Nova Scotia building supply sector will soon disappear as the business has been sold to another familiar, bigger company from the Atlantic region.

Founded in 1976, Central Building Supplies will become part of the Kent Building Supplies operation on Jan. 1, according to Central's founder, Steve Smith.

In a news release, Smith explained that the company had reached "a crossroads."  

'Demographics are changing'

"The demographics are changing and with it has come greater pressures to invest heavily in infrastructure and technology in order to grow and expand," he said.

Kent Building Supplies was just the company to fill the bill since it has such a "strong record of growth and investment in Atlantic Canada," added Smith.

Smith said Kent, a division of J.D. Irving Ltd., "will take this business to a whole new level."

7 stores around Nova Scotia

Central has seven stores around the province, including three in Cape Breton. Kent will add those to its existing 43 stores around the Atlantic provinces, according to Kent's general manager, Stew Valcour.

Kent said it would keep all of Central's employees. According to its website, Central employs 671 people, although that figure includes some associated smaller businesses.

Valcour said customers won't see any change for about a year; the stores will keep the name Central throughout 2017 and the switchover to the Kent brand will begin in 2018.

"We're trying to make it transparent and seamless for customers," said Valcour.

'Smooth transition'

Valcour said the aim is to make a "smooth transition" for Central's workforce.

"Steve's run a great business for 40 years. We want Steve's team to stay in place," he said. Valcour said it may be necessary for some people eventually to change jobs within the company.

Valcour pointed to Kent's status as an Air Miles sponsor, which Central isn't, as a value-added feature of the merger.

Along with the seven stores, Kent will also acquire Central's truss production plant in Antigonish to give it a total of six truss plants in the Atlantic region.

Although he's giving up ownership of Central, Smith said he has not sold his other businesses.

A real estate firm, his company Atlantic Windows, along with his cottage and suites rentals in Whycocomagh, N.S., will remain "a focal point of my energies" for years to come, he said.