Universal Marble & Granite Inc., a leading stone supplier in the Midwest, has expanded with an operation in St. Louis, MO. The company, which also has stone galleries in Illinois, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin, has pursued a successful and aggressive expansion program that has made it one of the largest natural stone suppliers in the region.

The new stone gallery, which is located at 1200 Research Boulevard in St. Louis, MO, is equipped with the latest technology for material display and product movement, optimizing the experience for slab viewing, the company reports. UGM's St. Louis facility stocks popular as well as rare materials with 65,000 square feet of space. The inventory includes natural stone slabs comprising UGM's proprietary Elite Collection, luxury travertine and limestone tiles and slabs from its Rochebelle brand. It also houses engineered stone from Quarella's line of manufactured stone.

Anik Narula, the company's President and CEO, said that this latest development boosts UGM's market presence in the region and strengthens its efforts to build on the young company's position in the industry. The company's marketing department spent two years studying the market and developing plans for penetration. Its primary target is stone fabricators and other stone retailers in the area with strong plans for the design community. Last year, UGM enjoyed sales revenue of $40 million overall.