CONWAY, Ark. -- Convenience store distributor Douglas Cos. of Conway, Ark., signed a purchase agreement on March 31, 2014, to acquire Tri-Com Inc. dba Convenient Store Services, reported The Log Cabin Democrat.
CSS has been a privately owned convenience store distributor in Carthage, Mo., in operation since 1988, servicing a four-state area including southwest Missouri, southeast Kansas, northeast Oklahoma and northwest Arkansas.
This acquisition will position Douglas to increase its annual revenues by approximately $70 million, the report said.
"We are extremely excited about the acquisition of CSS," Douglas president and CEO Steve Douglas and COO Susie Douglas Munson said in a joint statement cited by the newspaper. "With the close proximity of CSS to our region, this acquisition presents Douglas Cos. with an excellent opportunity to increase our footprint in the Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma markets."
They added, "CSS has done an outstanding job in customer service with their management team and employees. We are privileged to have these individuals join the Douglas team. Our companies' shared culture of values, commitment to customer service and common service area make this business combination a great fit."
The late Bob Douglas established Douglas Cos. in 1973 in Texarkana. As business expanded over the following three decades, the company established operations in Conway in 1978 and Jonesboro in 1989, said the report.
Douglas moved its entire distribution operation to Conway in 2005 after completing a large warehouse expansion. Douglas will continue to operate the CSS operation from its existing location in Carthage, but effective March 31, it is operating under the Douglas Cos. FourStates Division name.
Douglas provides wholesale distribution of cigarettes, tobacco products, candy, snacks, convenience groceries, beverages, health and beauty aids, general merchandise, foodservice products and beverage programs.
With this new acquisition, Douglas will now service more than 800 accounts with annual sales in excess of $230 million in six states that include Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Missouri and Kansas.
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