Australia’s second-largest hardware retailer is muscling in on the timber frame and truss market after Metcash acquired Alpine Truss, one of the country’s largest manufacturers, as part of a $558m mega buyout of Superior Foods and South Australia-based Bianco Construction Supplies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The latest acquisition now elevates Metcash,<\/a> as it competes with Coles, Woolworths and Wesfarmers\u2019s Bunnings chain to create a conglomerate across food, liquor and hardware – as part of greater network expansion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It comes after Wood Central reported in December that Metcash<\/a>, through its Independent Hardware Division (IHG), was expanding its footprint in timber supplies and hardware to compete with Bunnings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The push comes at a time when Bunnings,\u00a0\u00a0which has a more than 50% total market share of the Australian hardware and DIY market<\/em><\/a>, has invested heavily in the frame and truss to capture an even greater share of the commercial “wholesale” market.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n