Quebec wholesalers form 'Stox' partnership

BOUCHERVILLE, Quebec (Aug. 31, 2016) — Four leading Canadian wholesale distributors — Pneus Unimax Ltd., Distribution Pneus RT Ltd., Distributon DSP and Distribu-Pneus — have formed a strategic partnership that will go to market under the name Distribution Stox.

The partnership debuts with 19 distribution centers throughout Quebec comprising 600,000-plus square feet of space, more than 300 employees and100-plus delivery vehicles.

The partners said they're targeting mechanical workshops, tire centers and car dealers primarily in Quebec, while at the same time exploring potential avenues outside of Quebec to allow expansion across Canada, according to Bruno Leclair, president and CEO of Distribution Stox.

“We also hope to sign agreements with other Canadian car and pickup tire and accessory distributors inside and outside our network,” he said.

Mr. Leclair has been an executive with Unimax since 2011 and is also an officer with Point S Canada, which oversees 150-plus dealers flying the Point S retail flag in Canada.

“By creating Distribution Stox, we're combining our expertise, which is essential for standing out from our competitors, offering quality services, leveraging supplier partnerships and promoting growth across Canada,” said Leif Ellefsen, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Boucherville-based Distribution Stox.

He joined Unimax earlier this year after a 33-year career in distribution and logistics with a number of firms, according to his LinkedIn page.

The merger will ensure the lasting success and further development of the companies that make up Distribution Stox, the companies said. In addition, each will benefit from the expertise of a large, highly skilled and dynamic team with a solid understanding of the Canadian distribution market.

The partners did not say at this time who owns what share of the partnership nor what Distribution Stox's annual sales potential is.

Granby, Quebec-based Distribution Pneus RT has been in the tire business since the 1950s and brings 11 distribution centers to the partnership. Patrick Labrecque and Steve Bernard are vice president of operations/purchasing and sales/marketing, respectively.

Quebec City, Quebec-based Distribu-Pneus, a business unit of Groupe Ratté, brings three distributon centers to the partnership.