NQ’s Tosco Business and Education acquired by Aussie owned company COS

A national company has leapt at the opportunity to continue the work of a 66-year-old family-owned NQ operation. See how the acquisition will help locals.

COS co-chief executives Amie and Belinda Lyone recently acquired northern Queensland business Tosco Business and Education. Picture: Supplied.

A national office product company is ready to throw its support behind Townsville’s businesses, government agencies, hospitals, childcare centres and educational facilities after acquiring a family-owned North Queensland business.

Founded in Cairns 66 years ago, family-owned office product supplier Tosco Business and Education expanded into Townsville in 2019, operating a warehouse at 16 Hills St, Garbutt, before its owners Stephen and Judy Gardiner decided to sell the business, as retirement beckoned.

The couple’s decision was fortuitous for COS, the largest 100 per cent Australian-owned and operated national office product company, which aimed to expand its footprint in North Queensland after opening a warehouse at Jay St, Mount St John, in early 2023.

Given their lengthy association with the Gardiners, COS co-chief executive Belinda Lyone said it was a great result for COS to seamlessly take over the Cairns and Townsville warehouses, and retain Tosco’s 30 experienced staff.

Townsville's COS staff members Myles, Julie, Carl, Regan, Rob, Joel, Maureen, and Steven are looking forward to a new chapter after previously being employed by Tosco. Picture: Supplied.

Following the acquisition of Tosco, Ms Lyone said they had merged their two Townsville facilities and were operating out of Hill St since October 1.

“I think it was a nice synergy to sell to another family. There’s a lot of things about the businesses that are very similar,” Ms Lyone said.

Tosco owner Stephen Gardiner when they expanded into Townsville in 2019. Picture: Evan Morgan

Staff members outside the former Tosco warehouse, which was acquired by Cos, a national office product company. Picture: Supplied.

“We both sell office products, bathrooms supplies, and kitchen supplies but something that was different was that Tosco was in … managed print services … (which is) all things related to photocopiers.

“This is our first entrance into that category, and that was one of the things that we found interesting about Tosco.”

Belinda’s father Dominique began COS in Sydney in 1977, growing the business with the support of his daughters to over 600 staff nationwide, selling thousands of products directly to businesses, backed by a next day delivery model.

“Queensland has quite a wide geographic footprint and that requires a couple more warehouses in order to be able to deliver on that service,” she said.

“There’s a lot of business growth that’s happening, obviously this population movement post-Covid and we see a lot of opportunities up there to offer great service to customers.

“Our entrance into Townsville last year was very successful and we doubled the business that we had there in just 12 months, so we knew that there’s a great opportunity out there and a lot of customers wanting to buy from an Aussie owned company and that felt like a good fit for us.”

Tosco's co-owners Judy Stephen Gardiner have thanks the community for their support. Picture: Supplied.

Ms Lyone said both schools and businesses will benefit from COS’ significant buying influence to deliver competitive prices, larger product range, world class website, and a leadership team that is passionate about “service excellence”.

For more information, visit: www.cos.net.au

Originally published as NQ’s Tosco Business and Education acquired by Aussie owned company COS