The Tribune

Two Bahamian construction companies have 'cemented' a partnership that has seen them merge as Bahamas Redi-Mix, with a plant at New Providence's Airport Industrial Park.

The combination of Nassau Ready Mixed and NP Building Supplies, one-time competitors turned business partners, aims to enhance efficiency and generate 'economies of scale' by merging their previously separate operations under one roof.

"It is ironic," said Phil Andrews, managing director of the new company. "Both of us come from generations of parents and grandparents who started their businesses at about the same time; in the 1950s when construction first began to really take off in the Bahamas.

"It is hard to find a major structure that one of our two families did not help build; from the old Britannia Hotel to the most recent phase of Atlantis, with nearly all the government buildings in between. We hear stories about how they used to bid against each other, though I think they were always friends."

Mr Andrews, whose grandfather, Jack Donald, founded Nassau Ready Mixed nearly 60 years ago, said the former competitors began working together during the Atlantis first phase, supplying concrete as a joint venture. That was in the early 1990s.

Then Nassau Ready Mix, which had outgrown its Oakes Field facility, sold the property a few years ago and was considering re-locating and building a new plant when discussions began over the potential merger.

"The rest is a natural transition and a short history," said James 'Jimmy' Mosko, Bahamas Redi-Mix's president. The new plant was built on Mosko family land in the Airport Industrial Park. Both companies' trucks got new paint jobs and logos, while 10 employees moved from Nassau Ready Mix to Bahamas Redi-Mix.

"We had a few who had been with the company a very long time and took the opportunity to retire, but other than natural attrition there was no job loss and we hope we will have reason to expand," said Mr Andrews.

He expressed concern, though, about a lack of major real estate developments, particularly in New Providence. The Pointe, he added, and Albany were are the most promising large construction prospects now that ONE Cable Beach is nearing completion.

Individual housing starts are reported to be up, but there is little in current work in industrial, large commercial or new residential subdivisions or resorts on the drawing board for Nassau, Mr Andrews said. The company already has a batch plant in place to prepare Coco Cay in the Berry Islands, a cruise ship stopover, for Royal Caribbean's major expansion.