TORONTO — Canadian Business magazine has named Canadian Tire Corp., Fountain Tire and Pneus Unimax Ltd. to its "Best Managed Companies" in Canada list in recognition of their overall performance and sustained growth.
Fountain Tire is considered a "platinum" category winner (on the list for at least seven straight times), while Canadian Tire is a "gold" category winner (for the fourth, fifth or sixth straight year). Unimax is on the list for the second straight year.
Companies being considered for this recognition are evaluated by an independent judging panel, comprising representatives from program sponsors in addition to guest judges, according to Rogers Media, publisher of Canadian Business. Among the criteria considered are a clear strategy and vision, investment in capability and commitment to talent.
Companies must have annual sales of more than $15 million (Canadian) to be eligible.
"It's much more than just financial performance," according to Peter Brown, co-leader of the Canada's Best Managed Companies program and a Deloitte Private partner. "The ingredients to success also include overall business performance and sustained growth. It takes dedication and commitment from the entire organization.
"Canada's Best Managed Companies deserve recognition for their entrepreneurial approach to excelling in an uncertain economic climate. They truly bring out the best in Canadian business leadership," Mr. Brown added.
The 2019 winners will be honored at the annual Canada's Best Managed Companies gala in Toronto on April 17.
Boucherville, Quebec-based Pneus Unimax goes to market with seven retail banners, the most prominent of which is the Point S program, which succeeded the "Unipneu" brand three years ago.
Since then, Point S has climbed to the top of the industry in terms of advertising awareness, Unimax said, noting it serves more than 850 independent retailers across Canada and distributes in excess of 3 million tires annually.
In addition to managing the Point S retail program in Canada, Unimax offers two other retail marketing programs, primarily for smaller dealerships in Quebec and Maritimes Provinces — Prestige Tire and Pneus Max Plus.
At year-end 2018, there were 210 Prestige Tire outlets in Quebec and Ontario that are predominantly auto repair facilities and 65 Pneus Max Plus outlets.