O’Sullivan Brothers DIY (OSB Group), an Irish wholesaler to the kitchen and furniture industry, has bought Cookstown Panel Centre (CPC) in Northern Ireland in a multi-million pound deal.

OSB Group chairman Neil O’Sullivan described the match as a perfect fit for both companies and said he was pleased that CPC co-founder Gerry Mallon was staying on as managing director.

OSB Group, founded 26 years ago by Neil and John O’Sullivan with just three workers in a small unit in Holyhill, now occupies six acres and has 130,000ft2 of premises for its various divisions.

CPC was founded in the early 1980s and now employs 55 people and has 75,000ft2 of warehousing and offices.

Group managing director Declan O’Flaherty said both companies would benefit from a cross sharing of expertise and would offer each other an extended product range. CPC will benefit from lumber, kitchen and bedroom carcasses and panels while OSB will gain from CPC’s increased range of kitchen doors and accessories.

The enlarged group has sales in excess of €45m and the OSB Group says it has ambitious plans which include not only organic growth but also further acquisitions.