Joe Traigle started A &
L Sales in the garage of his Belle Chasse, Louisiana home in 1966.
Known as the "go-to-man", Joe sold any variety of product
requested and eventually evolved to focusing on disposable products.
Buying a vacant lot from a relative, just down the street from
his house, Joe built a 2,000 square foot warehouse in 1969. In
1974 the company outgrew the existing warehouse and built a 6,000
square foot facility and a 1,800 square foot office building at
their current location in Belle Chasse, Louisiana.
Joe named the company using the first initials of him and his
wife Lea's names. When new salesmen used to call he would tell
them if they could guess his first name he would give them an
order. Only one ever guessed correctly that his name was Ambrose.
Everyone used to call him Joe because when he was growing up he
didn't like Ambrose so he told everybody to call him Joe. He said
that sounded more normal. Joe had twelve brothers and sisters
so he received a lot of ribbing about his name. At the age of
14, he left home to support himself because his parents couldn't
afford to feed everyone. This is where he developed his entrepreneurial
spirit; he always made a way for himself.
In 1986, Joe's son, Peter Traigle, acquired the business and is
currently the sole owner. Under Pete's direction A & L Sales
has experienced unprecedented growth, now being one of the largest
Jan/San houses in Louisiana and the Gulf Coast region. A&L
now not only services its traditional markets of offshore maritime,
state and local government agencies, service contractors, schools,
colleges, industrial, armed services, restaurants, etc., but has
expanded to become a full service Hospitality/Hotel provider with
linens and amenities! Today A & L Sales, still at the same
location, has grown to five warehouses that total 50,000 square
feet and 2,500 square feet of office space and has 15 trucks expanding
our deliveries even further. You can trust A&L Sales to care
for all of your Janitorial, Paper, Hospitality, Foodservice and
even Pool Supply needs!
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