The Irish company now operates at 1000 Point San Pedro Road in what’s been long known as the Dutra Quarry. Technically, Dutra still owns the quarry, but Dutra Materials now belongs to CRH Americas, and the Dutra employees now have their paychecks signed by CRH. The quarry produces rip rap, sand, asphalt, base rock and drain rock. Parent company The Dutra Group has a trio of business segments with dredging, marine construction and materials. As a part of the sale arrangement, Dutra operates the barging operation that takes materials out of the quarry via the bay on behalf of CRH on a contract basis. This makes sense since Dutra has barging expertise and CRH has supply-side knowhow. Going forward CRH is in charge of quarry operations and the continued reclamation of the Dutra property. Dutra of course has property in Petaluma as well, known as Hayland Stack—a location where Dutra had hoped to build an asphalt plant just off the Petaluma River. But that project stalled out during the permitting process. It also has a location in Richmond. The sale of Dutra’s business to CRH took place late last year. Oddly enough, it was only the second foothold that CRH had in California. The company previously acquired BoDean Company Inc. and Northgate Ready Mix LLC in Santa Rosa. Given the construction trade in California and CRH’s appetite for growth, entry into the Golden State was long in coming. Aimi Dutra, the head of community relations for Dutra, said that her family wasn’t looking to sell the quarry operation or shopping it on the market. In the past other suitors had come calling, but none of those overtures rose to a serious deal. When CRH approached Dutra, the local company felt it was a good fit for its needs as well as the community. The deal process took more than a year to come together. (When
we spoke, Aimi Dutra was as forthcoming as she could be, but reading between the lines of her comments, it’s clear that CRH is calling the shots when it comes to what her company is allowed to talk about. She was professional as she answered questions but also treaded carefully in what she shared.) Dutra’s original business got started in the Delta, close to the Rio Vista Bridge. Created in 1972 as a dredging service, the company grew from a literal backwater organization into commercial endeavor that not only helped shape the California Delta but operates on a national and even international basis. While it has its own museum in Rio Vista, its headquarters is in the Canal neighborhood of San Rafael on Kerner Boulevard. “This deal allows us to come full circle back to our marine roots,” she says. Aimi Dutra says going forward the company will look at expanding its marine and dredging business on a national basis. The Dutra-CRH deal was made quietly last year, with Dutra retaining the quarry property but not the quarry business. The announcement about the transaction was just four paragraphs long but it did include a dandy photo of the quarry on a bright sunny day. It also included an obligatory quote from Scott Parson, president of Americas Materials Solutions, the division of CRH where Dutra Materials now lives. “We are delighted to welcome Dutra Materials into the CRH family. Following our entry into the state of California earlier this year via the acquisitions of BoDean Company and Northgate Ready Mix, we are excited to expand our presence in California and further enhance our ability to provide integrated solutions to customers in this attractive market.” And if that doesn’t stick a lump in your throat, well you just aren’t in touch with your feelings. The announcement by CRH didn’t include a quote from anybody
24 NorthBaybiz
March 2025
Made with FlippingBook Online newsletter maker