Simpson To Buy Caffall Bros. Mill

Simpson Timber Co., Tacoma, Wa., has agreed to acquire Caffall Brothers Forest Products' Douglas fir stud mill in Longview, Wa. The deal is set to close in mid-December.

"We've been interested in the Longview area for quite some time," said Simpson Timber president Ray Tennison. "Caffall Brothers' recent remodel of its stud mill and its wellqualified management team and workforce are a good fit for Simpson's business strategy."

Caffall Bros., which opened the Longview mill in 1977 , has invested more than $1.5 million over the last four years, adding a new planer building, warehouse and equipment.

The facility produces about 900,000 bd. ft. of lumber a day for customers in California and the Northwest.

Do lt Best Retailers Cash In

Do it Best Corp. has reached a milestone $3 billion in annual sales and during its recent fall market returned a record $122.1 million rebate to its member retailers.

In addition to the mill, Caffall Bros. also owns a log yard business at the mill site that prepares and ships logs to domestic and export markets, including Japan. Doug Caffall, president and third-generation owner, said he will retain the log yard business, but relocate it to a new site, where the company may transition into wholesale lumber sales.

Simpson said the acquisition will not affect whether it builds a new sawmill on 35 acres it acquired one year ago from the Port of Longview for $2.2 million. The contract requires Simpson to sell the land back to the port if it does not begin construction on a sawmill by the end of 2008.

Simpson also holds an option to purchase an adjoining 25 acres from the port.

house purchases per retail sq. ft.);

. All American Home Center, Downey, Ca. (Valspar paint purchases-single store);

. California Do it Center, North Hollywood, Ca. (Valspar purchasesmultiple stores);

. McDaniel Do it Center, Snohomish, Wa. (warehouse purchases-single store), and

. Power Townsend Co.. Helena. Mt. (highest rebate-single store).

Runners-up included:

.C&MLumberCo..New Meadows, Id. (purchases per sq. ft.);

. McDaniel Do it Center (Valspar purchases-single store)l

. Northwest Drywall & Building Supply, Kalispell, Mt. (commodities purchases-single store);

. Power Townsend (warehouse purchases-single store), and

. Johnson's Home & Garden, Maple Valley, Wa. (highest rebatesingle store).

During the event, Member Purchase Awards were presented to first-place finishers:

. Hills Flat Lumber Co., Grass Valley, Ca., and Mountain Hardware, Wrightwood, Ca. (highest total ware-