LONG before Woodcats International became a backbone of Jamaica’s supply chain, it was a small workshop responding to a quiet but costly gap in the market.

Founded in 1999 by Christopher Collings, the company emerged as a local alternative to imported wooden pallets that were expensive and inconsistent.

“At the time, he [Collings] had identified a need for locally produced wooden pallets to support Jamaica’s growing logistics and distribution sector. The business started very practically, focused on making a product that supply chains could depend on every single day, even if most people never thought about it,” said General Manager Peter Douglas to the Jamaica Observer.

For Jamaican businesses, the challenge was reliability. Pallets needed to be delivered on time, built to specification, and strong enough for both local handling and international shipping. Imported options frequently fell short, creating space for a manufacturer that understood the realities of local warehousing, port operations, and transport logistics. That understanding became the foundation of Woodcats’s early growth. And while the name Woodcats might seem playful, it has more sentimental roots. “Wood” reflects the company’s core business, while “Cats” is drawn directly from the founding family behind the operation.

“It’s made up of the initials of the founding family. Collings, his wife Andrene, their daughter Tracy, and their son Stephen — when you put together the first letters of their names, it spells C-A-T-S,” Douglas revealed to the Business Observer.

In the beginning, the business operated out of a small workshop with a lean team and a limited customer base. The focus was on getting the fundamentals right, designing and building pallets for local industrial clients and earning trust through consistent delivery. The first few years, however, proved the most challenging. As a new manufacturer entering the market, securing raw materials, managing costs, and building credibility were significant early hurdles. Over time, through constant execution and reliability, the business established firm footing in Jamaica’s business landscape, an achievement that remains one of the most satisfying aspects of the journey for its operators.

“One of the most rewarding moments has been seeing Woodcats become a constant in Jamaica’s supply chain. It’s a good feeling to know that goods moving through ports, warehouses, and factories are riding on something we built locally. That sense of usefulness has always stood out,” he said.

By 2018, the company reached a turning point, where continued growth required fresh capital. This led to its acquisition by Derrimon Trading Company Limited (DTL), providing the investment and structure needed to support expansion. Since then, upgrades to equipment and systems, along with a sharper focus on efficiency, have driven steady improvements in output and performance. Woodcats has grown into a national manufacturing partner of scale, producing and servicing more than 300,000 pallets annually and supporting some of Jamaica’s largest industrial clients.

“We have not yet found a replacement for pallets,” boasted Douglas. “We are the only company producing pallets and other wood products that have the heat treatment facilities that are necessary for goods being exported.”

The organisation has expanded from a team of 64 employees operating out of a single location at 27 Slipe Pen Road, Kingston, to a workforce of more than 90 across two facilities, including its second site at 235–237 Marcus Garvey Drive. Profitability increased from $108 million in 2023 to $136 million in 2024, while gross profit margins improved from 23 per cent in 2020 to 39.6 per cent in 2024, reflecting gains in operational efficiency. While Woodcats built its reputation on the reliable supply of wooden pallets, the company has gradually uncovered new avenues for expansion beyond its core product. A key turning point came with the realisation that materials typically treated as waste across the industry could instead be transformed into value-generating inputs. Management became increasingly intentional about maximising the use of every piece of wood moving through its operations, reframing offcuts and by-products not as a cost to be managed but as an opportunity to extend the business model. That shift gave rise to Woodcats’ waste-to-revenue strategy. Today, sawmill offcuts are repurposed into engineered wood products such as planter boxes, benches, and bespoke items, while different grades of sawdust are supplied to the agriculture and livestock sectors. The approach has also led to the development of the Summerland mulch line, now used by hotels, landscapers, and homeowners across the island.

“At this stage I’d say 90 per cent of our business is waste to revenue; our objective [is] not to send anything to landfill but to convert it into products,” Douglas told the Business Observer.

That approach reflects lessons carried forward from the company’s early years, principles that continue to shape its operations and long-term strategy.

“Control costs, respect your customers, and waste nothing. That mindset has influenced how we think, how we operate, and how we plan for the future,” Douglas shared.

Woodcats wants to now be remembered as a company that helped keep Jamaica’s economy moving, one built with a conscious responsibility to the environment, a strong investment in people, and proof that local manufacturing, when done properly, can be both efficient and competitive. As the business enters its next chapter, management has expressed confidence in the opportunities ahead and the growth plans already in place. The company’s recently announced combined initial public offering (IPO) and offer for sale, which opened on February 2 and closes on February 20, 2026, marks a major milestone in that journey. The transaction is expected to provide the capital and platform needed to expand product lines, upgrade machinery, and strengthen supply partnerships, further improving operational efficiency.

“For years, we have invested in the fundamentals, a solid team and strong performance, so this IPO will allow us to take the business further,” expressed Douglas. “I’m genuinely encouraged by the level of interest we’ve seen so far.”

Douglas has been with Woodcats for 20 years and has served as general manager for 17 of those, having joined the company as an accountant and been persuaded to stay on, a decision he recalls with a smile. As part of the company’s family centric culture, employees will have the opportunity to own a stake in the business, reflecting a people-first approach where staff are regarded as the organisation’s most valuable asset.

“Some of them have been here for decades,” he said.

Looking ahead, the company’s focus will be on strengthening its position as the go-to supplier for export-ready pallets and engineered wood solutions, while pursuing growth that is responsible and sustainable.

Woodcats International-branded wooden products on display at the company’s Kingston facility.

Engineered wood products produced by Woodcats International. The company has expanded beyond pallets by converting wood offcuts into value-added items as part of its waste-to-revenue strategy..

Executives and advisers at Woodcats International during the company’s recent IPO-related signing, marking a key milestone as the manufacturer prepares to enter the public market and fund its next phase of expansion. (Photo: Rahyme McKenzie)

Woodcats’ expanded operations include multiple storage and processing areas, supporting large-volume pallet production and servicing clients across Jamaica’s supply chain.

Finished wooden pallets awaiting distribution at Woodcats International. The company has invested in equipment and systems upgrades to improve efficiency and output as demand continues to grow.

Stacks of wooden pallets at Woodcats International’s operations yard. The company has grown into a national manufacturing partner, supplying pallets to some of Jamaica’s largest industrial and export-oriented businesses.

Woodcats International signage at the company’s Kingston operations.

Woodcats International employees assemble export-ready wooden pallets at the company’s Kingston facility. 

Bags of Summerland Landscape Mulch, produced from sawmill by-products. The mulch line supplies hotels, landscapers, and homeowners.

Peter Douglas, general manager of Woodcats International, has been with the company for 20 years. (Photo: Adrian Creary)