Mr. Anthony Holness has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of Hardware & Lumber Limited (H&L); while Mr. John Mahfood has been appointed Deputy Chairman of the Board of H&L.

Mr. Holness, a Chartered Accountant, has had a distinguished career with the Company, which he joined in September 1991 as Managing Director.

He was appointed Chief Operating Officer of Hardware & Lumber Limited in April 2004, following the acquisition of the majority interest in H&L by GraceKennedy in 2003 and the subsequent acquisition by H&L of the shares in Rapid & Sheffield Company Limited and Agro Grace Limited.

As COO of H&L he played a significant role in the successful achievement of the operational merger of the businesses.

Mr. Holness will oversee the completion of the merger and develop the business going forward to solidify the Company's position as the leading retailer and distributor of hardware, home improvement and agricultural products.

Mr. John Mahfood who is the Chief Operating Officer of GraceKennedy's Retail & Trading Division was appointed to the position of Chief Executive Officer of H&L in 2003, at which time he was also made a member of the Board of H&L.

He was instrumental in creating the opportunity for the merger of the businesses of Hardware & Lumber, Rapid & Sheffield Limited and Agro Grace Limited and has led the process for the integration of the H&L Group over the past 18 months.

In his role as Deputy Chairman he will continue to play an integral role in the growth and development of the H&L Group.

Posted: August 31, 2005