1881 - George R. Alston

The ANSA McAL Group’s history began in 1881, when George R. Alston established Geo R. Alston and Company, as a small, agricultural trading company in Trinidad and Tobago. In 1919, his entrepreneurial drive, keen business acumen and vision, then founded Alston and Company- a diversified group of successful companies which included Trinidad and Tobago’s first match company, Trinidad Match Company (est. 1887), a shipping company, now known as Alstons Shipping (est. 1905), a clay manufacturing company, Trinidad Clay Products Ltd est. 1947, (now Alstons Building Enterprises Limited), and an insurance company - Trinidad and Tobago Insurance Co. Ltd (est. 1963). In 1947, Geo R. Alston and Company was one of the first corporations to convert from a private to a public company. Alstons Limited was created, as was the Caribbean Development Co. Ltd, the brewing company of our world famous Carib beer.

1919 - Charles Mc Enearney

Another Trinidadian pioneer, Charles Mc Enearney successfully gained the franchise for the revolutionary Ford Motor car and formed Charles McEnearney & Company, now McEnearney Motors. This successful business venture led to others, until the business expanded into several ventures including – Burmac Ltd, electrical and household appliances, assembly of motor vehicles and appliances, business equipment and office systems – McEnearney Business Machines (MBM). 

1969 - Merger of Alstons & McEnearney

Four take-over bids ended in the merger of Alstons Ltd. with Charles McEnearney and Co. Ltd, members of the worldwide Inch Cape Group. In 1972, the Group made its first entry into Barbados and acquired Stokes and Bynoe Ltd. In 1976, Charles McEnearney and Co. Ltd. acquired the minority shareholders of Alstons Ltd and established McEnearney Alstons Ltd.

1986 - Anthony Norman Sabga CMT, Hon LL.D (UWI)

Anthony Norman Sabga came to Trinidad from Syria in 1930, and at the age of thirteen, worked in his father’s business. Being the visionary entrepreneur from an early age, he took his vision and in 1945 established Standard Distributors Ltd, which started as an agency and distributor business catering to the hardware, dry goods and foodstuffs trade. Soon, this successful company grew by leaps and bounds through astute joint venture agreements with Caribbean and UK partners in foodstuff manufacturing and retail appliance business.

In 1964, the holding company Anthony N. Sabga Limited was formed and was actively engaged in land development and investment. One of the earliest developments was the construction of the residential up- market Regents Gardens and Regents Tower. Soon after, the hugely successful ANSA Industries Ltd was established in 1965 to manufacture household appliances throughout the Caribbean.

It achieved such phenomenal success, that the company won the Prime Minister’s Export Trophy in 1968. Other companies were established with business operations in powdered milk packaging, high-grade furniture manufacturing (under the Bell Furniture label) and stationery products (Crown Industries). At age 63, Anthony N. Sabga purchased $30 million new stock units at par within the following three years, after two other major corporations had rejected this offer.

On November 26, 1992, the McEnearney Alstons Group formally adopted the name ANSA McAL, which reflects the present ownership structure of the Group in which ANSA is the majority stockholder.

2006 - ANSA McAL Celebrates 130 years

The ANSA McAL Group of Companies celebrates its 130th Anniversary of operations. Established in 1881 when George Alston founded the agri-trading company, today the ANSA McAL Group operates over 60 companies in eight commercial sectors across the Caribbean region and in the USA and with an asset base of over TT 10.9 Billion as at December 31st 2010. The 130th Anniversary celebrations were "kicked off" with the ANSA McAL Group of Companies Best of the Best Competition 2011 which took place on February 25th 2011 at the Guardian Car Park. To read the Press Release ... Click here To view photos in the Photo Gallery ... Click here