Concrete Products Built on Service and Experience Since 1952

A-1 Block is a family owned concrete solutions provider serving contractors, developers, municipalities, architects, engineers, and construction professionals across Florida. With strategically located facilities throughout Central Florida, we manufacture and supply ready mix concrete, concrete masonry units, retaining wall systems, precast products, rebar, mortar, and construction materials for projects of every size.

From large scale commercial developments and FDOT infrastructure projects to residential communities and specialty architectural construction, A-1 Block remains committed to delivering consistent quality, dependable supply, and long term customer relationships built through decades of trusted service.

The Milestones That Built A-1 Block

What began in 1952 as a small family-owned concrete block operation in downtown Orlando has grown into one of Florida’s largest independently owned concrete and masonry suppliers. Founded by Anthony “Red” DaCato, A-1 Block was built on hard work, perseverance, and a commitment to serving customers with dependable products and exceptional service.

Over the decades, the company expanded through strategic acquisitions, continuous investment in manufacturing technology, and the development of ready-mix concrete, architectural masonry, and construction materials. Each milestone reflects a deliberate commitment to meeting the evolving needs of Florida’s contractors, builders, architects, engineers, and communities.

Today, A-1 Block operates multiple production facilities across Florida while remaining family owned and guided by the same values that established the company more than seventy years ago. Explore the milestones below to see how A-1 Block has grown from a single block machine into a trusted industry leader.

1952
Foundation
The Beginning

Anthony "Red" DaCato founded A-1 Block Corporation in Orlando with a single block machine producing approximately 2,000 blocks per day.

1957
Production
Expanding Production

A second block machine increased production capacity to approximately 5,000 blocks per day.

1962
Production
Continued Growth

Two additional machines doubled daily production capacity to approximately 10,000 blocks.

1965
Equipment
Major Equipment Expansion

Installation of a 3X block machine increased production to approximately 25,000 blocks per day.

1967
Acquisition
Thomas Block Acquisition

A-1 Block acquired Thomas Block, expanding its operations and market presence.

1979
Innovation
Florida's First 5X Machine

Installed Florida's first 5X block machine, the largest operating in the state at the time.

1980s
Products
Product Diversification

Expanded beyond standard concrete block into architectural block, split-face, polished, and specialty masonry products.

1981
Acquisition
Watkins Block Acquisition

Acquired Watkins Block, further expanding manufacturing capacity and regional reach.

1982
Operations
Centralized Operations

Consolidated company land, facilities, and operations at the current Division Avenue headquarters.

Mid-1980s
Milestone
Largest Plant Under One Roof

Operating five production machines, A-1 Block became the largest concrete block plant under one roof east of the Mississippi, producing approximately 50,000 units daily.

Mid-1990s
Production
Production Doubles

Expanded production capacity to approximately 100,000 concrete blocks per day.

2005
Expansion
Sanford Facility Opens

Constructed the company's first satellite block manufacturing facility in Sanford.

2006
Ready-Mix
Entered the Ready-Mix Market

Expanded into ready-mix concrete with the purchase of two volumetric concrete mixer trucks.

2007
Ready-Mix
Orlando Ready-Mix Plant

Opened the first permanent ready-mix concrete plant at the Orlando facility.

2009
Acquisition
Zellwood Ready-Mix

Purchased the assets of an independent ready-mix operation in Zellwood.

2012
Acquisition
Polk City Ready-Mix

Acquired the assets of an independent ready-mix plant in Polk City.

2015
Expansion
Polk City Block Production

Expanded block manufacturing operations into the Polk City facility.

2016
Expansion
Taft Property Acquired

Purchased land in Taft for future ready-mix operations and continued growth.

2017
Acquisition
Plant City Ready-Mix

Purchased the assets of a ready-mix operation in Plant City.

2018
Expansion
Sanford Ready-Mix Plant

Constructed a permanent ready-mix concrete plant at the Sanford location.

2019
Expansion
Tampa Facility

Purchased land and developed a new ready-mix facility serving the Tampa market.

2023
Expansion
Port Orange Operations

Acquired the Port Orange property and gradually assumed operations of the existing facility.

2026
Expansion
Wildwood Facility Opens

Opened the Wildwood location featuring both concrete block manufacturing and ready-mix concrete operations.

WHY CONTRACTORS TRUST A-1 BLOCK

Strategic Plant Locations

Multiple facilities across Florida positioned to support fast turnaround times, dependable logistics, and responsive project coordination.

Reliable Scheduling

Responsive dispatch coordination and dependable delivery scheduling to help keep projects on track.

High Production Capacity

Production capabilities designed to support high-volume commercial, industrial, and infrastructure projects.

Experienced Team

Knowledgeable professionals who understand project demands, specifications, and construction timelines.

Bilingual Customer Support

English and Spanish speaking staff available to support contractors, project managers, developers, and field teams.

Consistent Quality

Concrete solutions produced with a focus on reliability, performance, and consistency.

One Stop Shop

Comprehensive concrete solutions including ready mix, CMU, precast products, retaining wall systems, rebar, mortar, and construction accessories.

Fully Licensed & Insured

Professional operations backed by licensed facilities, insured delivery services, and compliance focused manufacturing processes.

Strategic Locations. Stronger Together.

Our locations across Florida allow us to deliver materials efficiently and support your projects with speed and consistency – no matter where the job is.