The Spanish company Cosentino Group, a world leader in quartz surfaces and natural stone, has acquired American distributor, Import Stone for $ 14 million.
With seven warehouses in California, Washington, Arizona and Texas, Import Stone distributes natural stone throughout the west and south western regions of the United States. The company employs 75 people who will stay on at Cosentino U.S.A. In 2007, Import Stone reported $ 65 million in sales.
Cosentino bought Import Stone for its distribution capabilities as well as the attention and service it offers clients, which include many smaller retailers and industry giants like Lowe's, Costco and Home Depot.
The acquisition of Import Stone was also a strategic move by Cosentino to expand its current territory, which is primarily in the central and eastern parts of the country. Cosentino runs logistics centers in Houston, Chicago, Charleston, Boston, Newark, Saint Paul and Costa Mesa, California.
According to company CEO Francisco Martinez-Cosentino, the move strengthens Cosentino´s position in the United States and reinforces distribution by allowing the company to control the entire process and provide the best service to clients worldwide. It also enables the company to extend its product line throughout the widely competitive U.S. market.
Cosentino has been in the U.S. since 1998. It services over 3,500 American retailers and works with more than 80 distributors.
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