ATLANTIC Hardware & Plumbing Company says post-Hurricane Melissa reconstruction demand and a strategic expansion into agricultural distribution are opening new growth channels, after delivering record revenue and continued balance sheet strengthening in 2025.

The company reported revenue of $1.82 billion for the year ended December 2025 — its strongest sales performance to date — representing roughly 12 per cent growth year over year.

“We lost one week of sales in October but the reconstruction efforts that were required, we were able to satisfy customers by pivoting into products that we actually trade… particularly those in the western end of the country that were impacted by the hurricane,” chief executive Deanall Barnes told the Jamaica Observer.

The fourth quarter capped what management described as a year of operational resilience, as hurricane-related disruption in October was followed by rebuilding activity across western Jamaica that extended sales into the normally slow December construction period.

“…[N]ormally construction activities slow the second week of December. It did for the most part in about six parishes, but the western parishes were still doing reconstruction so we were able to supply these customers on a consistent basis, which augmented our sales for that period,” he explained.

Investor sentiment also strengthened in the months following the hurricane, with Atlantic Hardware’s stock rallying to as high as $2.24 in post-storm trading before closing at $1.97 on Monday, February 23. The move reflected market positioning for reconstruction-driven demand across hardware and building supply distributors.

Beyond reconstruction-related sales, Atlantic is now extending its distribution model into agriculture, following its February acquisition of the agri-distribution business previously operated by T Geddes Grant (Distributors) Limited, to be branded Agro Atlantic. Barnes said the move reflects structural overlap between hardware and agricultural retailing in Jamaica and allows Atlantic to leverage logistics and co-location advantages.

“If you look in any town in Jamaica, right next to a hardware store there’s an agri store… a truck can distribute not only hardware items but also agricultural items,” Barnes told the Business Observer.

Barnes said the agro expansion aligns with national efforts to boost agricultural output, and allows Atlantic to leverage shared warehousing trucking and co-located facilities. The new division will distribute fertilisers, feed, seeds, veterinary products and other farm inputs. Because the acquisition closed after year end, the new division is not yet reflected in the 2025 financials, but Barnes said early sales signals are positive and the company is “cautiously optimistic” about the next quarter. The results also reflect continued deleveraging, with finance costs falling year over year following debt repayments funded partly by the company’s IPO and property sale. Speaking recently on the Limitless podcast, Barnes said Atlantic’s debt has fallen from about $1.4 billion to roughly $580 million, a turnaround he said is improving investor perception after initial IPO scepticism.

“The investing community has now realised that we’re a very solid company,” he said.

Barnes said Atlantic has reduced debt by roughly 60 per cent while growing the business by about 10 per cent annually, despite contraction in the broader hardware market — a shift he said has rebuilt credibility following early leverage concerns at listing. He added that the company is in refinancing negotiations aimed at strengthening cash flow and supporting future expansion, with details to be disclosed once finalised. In discussing how investors might identify opportunities in the market, Barnes suggested investors examine sectors positioned to benefit from government reconstruction spending and rebuilding capital flows.

“What companies more than likely will benefit directly or indirectly from those funds?” he asked with a smile.

Atlantic Hardware is now distributing agricultural supplies through its new agriculture division (Agro Atlantic), effective February 1.

Chicks are among the livestock inputs to be distributed under Atlantic Hardware’s new Agro Atlantic division.