Early M&A, Lots of Planned Openings Point to Busy Time for LBM in 2024

LBM facilities that were acquired (blue pins), have opened or will open (green), and have closed or will close (red) as of Jan. 17, 2024. Not shown: An acquisition in Hawaii. Data source: Webb Analytics

While Webb Analytics completes work on its annual deals report--expect it to come out around Feb. 1--it also can report there already are nearly 60 acquisition, opening, and closures of LBM facilities that have taken place or are scheduled to occur later in 2024. Here's a roundup:

• Lezzer Lumber bought Trinity Supply & Installation, expanding Lezzer's presence in Pittsburgh.

• Kodiak Building Partners expanded in Texas by buying Gross-Yowell Lumber of Waco.

• 84 Lumber expects to open a truss plant soon in Lugoff, SC. New lumberyards are planned to begin operations later this year in Greeley, CO, and Riverside, CA. And components plants are being readied in Fort Lupton, CO; Boise, ID; the Boston area; and an as-yet undisclosed location in New Jersey.

• Georgia's Short & Paulk is building a new store in its hometown of Tifton. When that opens late this year, the current Tifton building will convert to a distribution center and warehouse.

• North Pole, AK, should get a lumberyard around March when Three Bears Alaska opens a facility there.

• Other dealers opening facilities include Ivey's Building Materials in Blanchard, LA; McCoy's Building Supply in Lockhart, TX; and Raymond Building Supply (a division of US LBM) in Fort Myers, FL.

• Two lumberyard locations are scheduled to close: Anawalt Lumber in West Hollywood, CA; and League Builders Supply in Stratton, NE. In addition, Value Home Centers is closing its store in Meadville, PA.

• Foundation Building Materials bought drywall dealer Stucco Master Supply of Monroe, OH, as well as exteriors and window specialist Tradewind Hawaii of Kailua-Kona.

• Erie Materials bought NEG Building Materials, a metal product manufacturer based in Nicholson, PA.

• Virginia's Cardinal Home Center expanded in its home state by acquiring Valley Building Supply of Staunton and Lake Anna Tractor & Hardware of Mineral.

• Westlake Ace Hardware, a division of Ace Hardware Corp., plans to open new stores in nine new locations.

• Rocky's Ace Hardware bought hardware stores in Rockport and Gloucester, MA, while Kendall's Ace Hardware of St. Paul, MN, changed hands from Kendall Crosby to Ashley and Matt Lloyd.