Watkins Concrete Block Company

What Watkins Concrete Block Company does

Watkins Concrete Block Company is a Nebraska-based manufacturer and distributor of masonry and hardscape building materials, operating four showroom-and-distribution locations across Omaha, Lincoln, Grand Island, and Kearney. The company manufactures concrete masonry units (CMUs) in over 1,300 shape, size, and color variations on a highly automated block plant capable of producing up to 30,000 blocks per day, and distributes complementary product lines from third-party suppliers including clay and concrete brick (Pine Hall, Endicott, General Shale), concrete pavers (Belgard, County Materials, Mirage), engineered retaining wall systems (Anchor, Rosetta Stone), manufactured stone (Eldorado Stone, StoneCraft), and natural stone (Earthworks, Edwards). Its product surface is rounded out with EIFS, tools, and accessories.

The company serves a horizontal mix of customers: homeowners undertaking patios, driveways, outdoor kitchens, and retaining walls; hardscape and masonry contractors who purchase materials for installation projects; commercial builders constructing hospitality, healthcare, education, religious, sports, and retail facilities; and architects and design professionals who specify materials. Watkins differentiates via expert in-store guidance, indoor and outdoor designer showrooms that allow visualization before purchase, and the Watkins Design Studio, a 3D design service that transforms customer space photos into immersive design renderings. It also operates the Contractor Connection referral program, a regional network of 100+ vetted masonry contractors that channels demand back to the company.

Watkins generates revenue through one-time material sales via direct showroom transactions and through its contractor channel, with no published price lists or subscription model. The company has been a wholly-owned subsidiary of NEBCO, Inc., a fourth-generation family-owned Nebraska conglomerate, since 1988. Operating under NEBCO's ownership, Watkins functions as part of a broader network of block manufacturers statewide and benefits from the parent's scale, capital base, and 1,200+ employee organization, while maintaining independent sales operations, marketing, and an AIA-accredited continuing education program for architects.

Name

Watkins Concrete Block Company

Legal name

Watkins Concrete Block Company, Inc.

Website

https://watkinsconcreteblock.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1934

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Watkins Concrete Block Company manufactures and distributes masonry and hardscape building materials, including CMUs, brick, pavers, retaining walls, and stone, serving homeowners, contractors, commercial builders, and design professionals through four Nebraska showroom locations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Building Materials - Masonry and Hardscape Supply

NAICS

Concrete Block and Brick Manufacturing (327331), Cement and Concrete Product Manufacturing (3273)

SIC

Concrete, Gypsum & Plaster Products (3270), Retail-Lumber & Other Building Materials Dealers (5211)

akta.pro primary industry

Concrete Masonry Units (CMU) & Concrete Blocks (IMADABAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Masonry & Hardscapes Retail (Brick, Block, Pavers, Stone) (CRAIAEAF), Mortar, Grout & Masonry Cements (IMADABAL), Masonry Accessories & Reinforcement (Lintels, Ties, Mesh, Rebar) (IMADABAK)

Keywords

• Concrete masonry products
• Hardscape building materials
• Brick and stone supply
• Concrete block manufacturing
• Masonry supply distribution

Headquarters

HQ city

Omaha

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Building Materials Sales: Watkins generates revenue through the sale of masonry and hardscape materials including concrete block, clay and concrete brick, retaining wall systems, concrete pavers, natural and manufactured stone, EIFS products, tools, and accessories. Sales are made directly to homeowners and contractors through showroom locations and indirectly through the contractor network.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Watkins Concrete Block Company manufactures over 1,300 concrete masonry unit (CMU) items and distributes a comprehensive line of masonry and hardscape products, including clay and concrete brick, retaining wall systems, concrete pavers, natural and manufactured stone, EIFS products, and accessories. The company sells these products through four physical showroom locations across Nebraska (Omaha, Lincoln, Grand Island, Kearney) and supports sales with design visualization, contractor referrals, and professional education services.

Product overview

Watkins Concrete Block Company is a building materials supplier and manufacturer offering a comprehensive portfolio of masonry and hardscape products for residential and commercial construction. The company manufactures over 1,300 concrete block items and distributes clay brick, manufactured stone, natural stone, concrete pavers, and retaining wall systems. Their product line includes core offerings like Brick Products, Concrete Pavers (Belgard, County Materials, Mirage brands), Concrete Wall Systems (Belgard, Anchor, Rosetta Stone brands), Masonry Block/CMUs, Manufactured Stone (Eldorado Stone, StoneCraft brands), and Natural Stone Products. Beyond products, they offer design services through their Watkins Design Studio (3D visualization), a Contractor Connection matching program, and AIA-accredited continuing education for design professionals. The company operates 4 locations across Nebraska (Omaha, Lincoln, Grand Island, Kearney) and is a NEBCO company.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Brick Products Clay and concrete brick products for residential and commercial construction, offering durability, fire resistance, and classic finish. Includes Pine Hall, Hebron, Endicott, General Shale, Cherokee Brick, and Reclaimed brick varieties.
• Concrete Pavers Concrete pavers designed for driveways, patios, and walkways, offering design versatility and structural strength. Includes Belgard, County Materials, Mirage, and Rochester Concrete Products brands.
• Concrete Wall Systems Engineered concrete wall systems providing structural reliability and visual appeal for retaining walls and architectural features. Includes Belgard Artforms, Brisa, Anchor Concourse, Diamond, Rosetta Stone, Highland Stone, and Tandem Wall Systems.
• Masonry Block (Concrete Masonry Units) Concrete Masonry Units (CMUs) offering durability, fire resistance, and low maintenance for walls and foundations. Manufactured in over 1,300 variations including Standard, Premium, and Ultra colors with shapes like A-Block, Bay Window, Beam Lintel, and Bullnose varieties.
• Manufactured Stone Premium manufactured stone veneer combining natural stone aesthetics with consistent quality for interiors and exteriors. Includes Eldorado Stone and StoneCraft products.
• Natural Stone Products Authentic natural stone products including Earthworks and Edwards Stone brands with varieties such as Aux Vases, Black Horse, Cottonwood, Harvest Mix, LeVieux Tumbled, and Wild Horse.
• Watkins Design Studio 3D design service that transforms photos of customer spaces into immersive 3D design experiences, helping customers visualize outdoor living projects with design experts before purchasing materials.
• Contractor Connection Contractor matching program connecting customers with vetted residential and commercial masonry contractors organized by region (Omaha, Lincoln, Grand Island, Kearney), supporting sales through qualified installer referrals.
• Continuing Education Programs AIA-accredited continuing education programs for architects covering concrete masonry construction, plus hardscape education sessions offered throughout the year for design professionals.

Quantifiable outcome

• Manufactures over 1,300 concrete block items
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Concrete Masonry & Hardscapes Association (CMHA)coreOthersWatkins is a proud member of the CMHA, which represents producers and suppliers of concrete masonry and hardscape products. The association provides technical resources, design aids, publications, digital tools, and professional training to advance quality, performance, and innovation across the industry.
• AIA (American Institute of Architects)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerWatkins hosts AIA-accredited Continuing Education Programs for architects nine months out of the year in Lincoln and Omaha. These monthly programs provide design professionals with opportunities to earn CEUs through accredited courses covering building envelope topics with a focus on concrete masonry construction.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• County Materials Corporation: Midwest-based manufacturer and distributor of concrete masonry, pavers, retaining walls, and ready-mix concrete — directly comparable to Watkins' core product portfolio and regional manufacturer-distributor model. Watkins even distributes County Materials concrete pavers as one of its brands.
• Anchor Block Company: Concrete masonry and hardscape manufacturer serving the Upper Midwest. Watkins distributes Anchor Wall Systems, indicating direct product overlap and competitive proximity in the regional CMU and segmental retaining wall markets.
• Midwest Block & Brick: Regional concrete block and brick manufacturer/distributor operating showrooms across the central U.S. Closely comparable business model — manufactured CMU plus distributed brick, stone, and hardscape products via company-owned retail yards.
• Amcon Block: Concrete masonry unit manufacturer serving the Midwest with both manufacturing and distribution operations. Direct overlap with Watkins' core CMU business and similar customer mix of contractors and commercial builders.
• RCP Block & Brick: West Coast and Southwest concrete masonry and hardscape manufacturer with showrooms and a contractor network. Comparable in scale, product breadth, and channel strategy (showroom + contractor referral) to Watkins' Nebraska operation.
• Mutual Materials: Pacific Northwest concrete masonry, brick, and hardscape manufacturer with showroom network and contractor programs. Closely comparable operating model — vertically integrated masonry manufacturer with showrooms and contractor referral channels.

Broad incumbents

• Belgard (Oldcastle APG): National hardscapes brand under CRH/Oldcastle APG offering pavers, retaining walls, and outdoor living products. Watkins distributes Belgard products, making Belgard both a supplier and a structural competitive threat via direct fulfillment.
• Quikrete: Largest U.S. manufacturer of packaged concrete, cement, and masonry products with national distribution. Broad incumbent in the concrete building products space overlapping Watkins' CMU and bagged mix categories.
• Eagle Materials: Public diversified building products company including cement, concrete, and wallboard. Larger-scale incumbent in cement and concrete products with national footprint competing for the same end customers and project specifications.

Regional players

• Fendt Builder's Supply: Michigan-based regional building materials distributor with showrooms serving contractors and homeowners. Comparable in product mix (masonry, hardscape, brick) and channel strategy, though operating in a different geography.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/watkinsconcreteblock
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/watkins

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Watkins Concrete Block Company