Ian Maxwell’s Ralmax Group of Companies is buying Chew Excavating Ltd., a locally owned family company founded 60 years ago by the late John Chew.
In what was described as a match made in heavy industry heaven, the companies signed a purchase agreement Monday and hope to close the sale May 1.
The sale marks the latest acquisition by Ralmax, which was founded in 1978 by Maxwell, its president and CEO. Ralmax holdings include Ellice Recycle Ltd., Ralmax Contracting, Point Hope Maritime, United Engineering Ltd. and Trio Ready-Mix Ltd. Ralmax is also a partner with the Songhees and Esquimalt First Nations in Salish Sea Industrial Service Ltd.
Ralmax is a major land owner on Victoria’s harbour. Maxwell bought assets of Point Hope in 2003 and last year bought its land and water. In 1995, he acquired the former Victoria Machinery Depot site on Bay Street.
Ralmax has 250 employees.
The deal for Chew Excavating was done quickly. Maxwell heard on March 11 that it was for sale.
“The family was as honourable as anybody I’ve ever dealt with,” Maxwell said. Chew Excavating is a “very good fit with our other businesses and our business culture,” he said.
“Equally important to me, however, is to carry forward the legacy of the founder, John Chew.” Maxwell is keeping the Chew Excavating name and will lease its existing site at 575 Gorge Rd. E. The sale includes all of Chew’s heavy equipment. Price is not being disclosed.
The agreement will open opportunities for civil work for Maxwell’s group. “Ralmax Contracting is very lean on equipment and Chew Excavating has lots of equipment,” said Maxwell.
Chew Excavating is one of the Vancouver Island’s largest excavating and civil construction firms. It is a trade and general contractor, providing services such as excavating and installing underground utilities, road excavation and site preparation for developments.
John Chew died in 2012 at age 87. In a 2005 interview to mark the company’s 50th anniversary as well as his 50th wedding anniversary, Chew said he had lived a “charmed life.” This was despite having to leave school at age 15 to help work the family vegetable farm in Saanich where the family lived in a tiny house collected water in buckets.
Chew Excavating started with a job to dig ditches and install clay tile on the Saanich Peninsula. John began the business with brother Max Chew, who remained with the company until 1968.
John Chew was a go-to person in Victoria when charities were soliciting donations. He was renowned as a savvy and dynamic businessman always open to new ideas, and for his loyalty and friendship with employees. Chew Excavating currently employs 60 full- and part-time staff.
Chris Chew, son of John Chew, said Monday that his father “was very proud of Chew Excavating ... the employees were like his family and our customers were all his friends.” The decision to sell comes as some senior managers are retiring or nearing retirement, Chew said. “We have been quietly looking for an opportunity to place the company in the best possible position for this next evolution and we feel that Ralmax fits this in a number of important ways.”
Ralmax has a reputation for quality service and fair business agreements, Chris Chew said, adding that the companies share similar cultures and management approaches. “We think Dad would approve.”
