Atlanta Hardwood purchases Craig Lumber

Atlanta Hardwood Corp. announced the acquisition of Craig Lumber Corp. of Collierville, Tenn. The new entity will be known as AHC Craig Imports.

Craig Lumber was founded in Liverpool, England in the 1960s and has been heavily involved in importing tropical hardwoods. Operations in the United States were established in 1977 in Collierville, Tenn. Craig Lumber directly imports more than 30 species of exotic lumber, specializing in West African and South American hardwoods. The company ships to distributors throughout the United States and Canada.

"Craig Lumber has an exceptional reputation for quality wood and excellent customer service," says James W. Howard, Jr., chief executive officer of Atlanta Hardwood Corp., in a company press release. "The addition of Craig Lumber to the Atlanta Hardwood group of companies complements our product offering of specialty import woods to the architectural millwork community and hardwood distributors throughout North America. With five concentration yards in the eastern United States, we strive to provide the highest quality forest products. We trust the intrinsic beauty of wood will inspire our customers, as it does us."

"Joining Atlanta Hardwood gives us the advantages of selling both domestic and imported hardwoods and a sound financial footing for the future," says Charles Craig, who will remain with the company as vice president of AHC Imports. "AHC understands how we do business and the importance of our relationships with customers and suppliers."

Atlanta Hardwood was originally founded as Howard Lumber in 1952. After more than 50 years in the lumber business, it is recognized as one of the largest lumber companies in the Southeast. Specializing in Appalachian hardwoods, the company processes, distributes and exports more than 50 million bf of hardwood lumber each year and operates five concentration drying yards, a molding manufacturing facility and six distribution centers.