Taiga has evolved since its inception in 1973 from a wholesale lumber trading company to a diversified multi-product distributor with remanufacturing and lumber treatment facilities. In 1973 Taiga's operations were composed entirely of direct lumber shipments into various markets in Canada and the United States. The Company continued to expand the direct lumber sales function in the succeeding years while developing a product line of other solid wood products and allied building products and creating a chain of distribution centres in key areas in the Canadian market. Sales have increased from $42 million in the Company's first year of operation to over $1.3 billion in the year ended March 31, 2005.
Growth of the Core Distribution Business
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Jimmie Bradshaw, President and COO |
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The Company's first distribution centre was established in 1974 in Calgary, Alberta. At this time, the Company expanded its product lines to include panel products, mouldings, doors, and other specialty products. Five additional distribution centres were added in western Canada and Ontario between 1975 and 1984, located in Edmonton, Alberta; New Westminster, British Columbia; Regina and Saskatoon, Saskatchewan; and Milton, Ontario. New product lines such as insulation, oriented strand board and pressure-treated lumber were added during this period. Additional distribution centres were established in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and Kelowna and Nanaimo, British Columbia between 1990 and 1992. In 1991, a sales office was added in metropolitan Montreal, Quebec.
In September 1994, the company purchased a wholesale distribution Company in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, and constructed a distribution centre in Sudbury, Ontario which opened for business in December 1994. In March 1996, the Company purchased from Norbord Building Materials three distribution centres located in Brampton, Ontario; Boucherville, Quebec and St. Augustin, Quebec as well as certain personnel and equipment in Sudbury, Ontario. In December 1998, Taiga established an Export sales department which operates out of the Company's Burnaby, B.C. Head Office shipping product into the Pacific Rim countries and Europe. In 2002, Taiga purchased a distribution centre in Rocklin, California thereby increasing its sales into the United States. This distribution centre services Northern California and Western Nevada.
Adding Manufacturing to the Core Business
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Andrew Hobbs, Manager, Envirofor Preservers (BC) Ltd. |
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In 1987, Taiga established a wood preservation plant at its distribution centre then located in New Westminster,
British Columbia to take advantage of increasing demand for treated wood. In 1997 this plant was replaced with a more modern facility based in Langley, British Columbia. In May 1999, Taiga completed the construction of a wood preservation plant in Edmonton, Alberta. In 2005, Taiga purchased a wood preservation plant in Monetville, Ontario. Taiga’s wood preservation facilities employ the most modern and environmentally friendly technologies in the industry. Taiga’s treated wood products are sold through its distribution network under the brand name ‘‘Taiga Select.’’
In 2001, Taiga established a manufacturing plant in Elmira, Ontario to manufacture fence products and custom-cut lumber, which are primarily distributed in Eastern Canada.
The Birth of Taiga Building Products
On September 1, 2005, Taiga converted to a stapled unit structure. Taiga Forest Products changed its name to Taiga Building Products and the stapled units began trading on the TSX under the symbol TBL.UN. On May 4, 2006 the stapled units split into their constituent notes and shares. The notes began trading under the symbol TBL.NT and the shares began trading under the symbol TBL.
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