ATLANTIC Hardware Limited is laying the groundwork to secure a bigger share of Jamaica’s expected reconstruction spend as it positions to capture new business from major infrastructure projects expected to come on stream under the National Reconstruction and Resilience Authority (NaRRA).

CEO Deanall Barnes, in an interview with the Jamaica Observer following the company’s annual general meeting on Wednesday, said that with NaRRA expected to become fully operational by the end of the first quarter of 2027, the hardware wholesaler has already begun its preparation for a possible surge in demand.

In anticipation of a robust pipeline of projects, he said the company has been strengthening its relationships with both overseas and domestic suppliers, while securing additional credit lines to ensure it can fulfil larger orders for key construction inputs.

“We have already touched base and remain in dialogue with quite a number of our overseas suppliers for steelbased products, lumber-based products, among other critical items, so as to ensure that when they’re ready, we will be able to facilitate those larger- than-usual orders,” Barnes said.

“At the end of the day, for us to be ready, we have to have the inventory, whether in store or even on the sea, to ensure that we can supply a lot of those orders,” he added.

The preparation forms part of a wider strategy to diversify Atlantic Hardware’s revenue base by moving more aggressively into large-scale construction, hospitality, and real estate projects, while positioning the company to benefit from public-sector infrastructure spending.

NaRRA, which was established to fast-track post-hurricane recovery and critical infrastructure rebuilding, is expected to coordinate and drive a number of major projects involving roads, bridges, schools, hospitals, and other important national facilities.

Atlantic’s push to capture a share of this pipeline comes as it also seeks to deepen its presence in the hospitality and real estate sectors, where it has expanded the range of products and services it offers to contractors and developers.

In recent times, the junior market-listed company has also expanded its project division, as it takes a more proactive approach to securing business by moving beyond its traditional model of responding to contractor requests to actively pursuing construction and development projects.

At the same time, the hardware wholesaler is also seeking to improve margins and operating efficiency through on-site designation secured late last year which allows it to handle the offloading of imported containers itself rather than incur the associated port costs.

Barnes said the arrangement is currently saving the company about $75,000 per container, with annual savings projected between $12 million$16 million. The special status is also expected to improve the speed at which Atlantic Hardware receives and distributes imported products, strengthening its ability to respond to large project orders.

“Being able to have our supplies on site in a timely manner will also augur well for how we will be able to tap into possible sales from the upcoming NaRRA projects,” Barnes said.

NEW SHOWROOM ON MARCUS GARVEY DRIVE

As the company prepares to broaden its retail reach, Barnes said that the planned opening of a 2500-squarefoot showroom at its Marcus Garvey Drive, St Andrew, location is further intended to give customers a walk-in option to view and purchase products – complementing Atlantic Hardware’s predominantly wholesale-type business.

He said that while wholesale activities remain the company’s core business, growing demand for more convenient purchasing channels has also prompted the expansion of its retail offering, alongside upgrades to its enterprise resource planning (ERP) system and e-commerce capabilities.

Together, the initiatives aim to give Atlantic greater purchasing capacity, faster distribution, and a broader customer base as it positions for the next phase of construction activity.

In its first year on the Jamaica Stock Exchange after becoming listed in April 2025, the 30-year-old company recorded revenue of $1.8 billion and profit of $68.9 million.

For the six-month period ended June 30, 2026, revenue rose to $1.46 billion, up 69 per cent over the corresponding period of last year. The performance was driven largely by strong demand across core customer segments, the company’s expansion into agro-distribution, improved product availability, and disciplined execution of its commercial strategy.

“We continue to be strategic with our diversification efforts, which are all geared towards longer-term growth and increased returns for the company,” Barnes told shareholders at the meeting.

Atlantic Hardware will open a 2500-square-foot showroom at its Marcus Garvey Drive, St Andrew, location. The new building will give customers a walk-in option to view and purchase products – complementing Atlantic Hardware’s predominantly wholesale-type business.