GMS Inc., a leading North American specialty building product distributor, announced the acquisitions of Engler, Meier & Justus, Inc. in Chicago and Blair Building Materials Inc. in Ontario, Canada.
GMS also announced the opening of a new greenfield yard in Ontario, as well as two new AMES store locations, all of which opened since the end of the previous fiscal quarter.
Engler, Meier & Justus, founded in 1962, is a leading distributor of drywall, acoustical ceilings, and related interior construction products to the greater Chicago market, as well as EIFS-related products in the Southeastern United States. In Chicago, EMJ currently operates under several brand names, including Westmont Interior Supply House and Contractors Acoustical Supply.
GMS’s commercial capabilities in the market are strengthened by EMJ’s two Chicago-area locations, which include becoming an Armstrong Ceilings distributor. EMJ’s EIFS locations in Charlotte, Raleigh, and Doraville complement our complementary product offerings throughout the Southeast.
Gary Wietecha, the current VP of Operations, will continue to lead the business, working closely with GMS’s Central Division.
Blair Building Materials Inc. was purchased on April 3rd.
Blair Building Materials, founded in 1950, serves customers in the greater Toronto area with exteriors, insulation, and waterproofing products.
Blair, which operates from a single location in Maple, Ontario, joins the GMS Canada portfolio as a strategic opportunity to expand access to exterior product lines such as brick, stone, and masonry.
Dante DiGiovanni, President of the Blair team, will continue with the business, operating under the Blair brand name but integrating closely with GMS’s Watson brand in Canada.
