MONTREAL — Canada's largest tire distributor is set to get larger, as Groupe Touchette Inc. has acquired 6.62 acres of land near Winnipeg, Manitoba, where it plans to open a 112,000-sq.-ft. distribution center by late 2024 or early 2025.
The new facility will be built in the CentrePort Canada industrial park in Rosser, rural municipality of about 1,200 residents northwest of Winnipeg. The new D/C will increase Montreal-based Touchette's space to 212,000 square feet on 12.6 acres in Brookside Industrial Park West.
Groupe Touchette operates a 100,000-sq.-ft. facility there now that opened in early 2020, initially occupying 70,000 square feet of space.
In September 2022, Groupe Touchette acquired National Tire Distributors from American Tire Distributors Inc., expanding its business nationally, resulting in the need for additional space in Manitoba.
Nicolas Touchette, co-owner and CEO of Groupe Touchette, said the company is "thrilled to announce our flourishing partnership and the remarkable progress we've witnessed in the past three years at CentrePort. This newfound space is a testament to our shared commitment, propelling us toward a future of unparalleled collaboration."
He called the news a "significant milestone in our journey" that "represents a strategic move toward fostering our presence and growth in this vibrant part of Canada."
Construction will begin in the coming months, and it is anticipated the facility will be operational in late 2024 or early 2025. The company will occupy 150,000 square feet across both facilities, with the remaining 60,000 square feet available for lease, brought to market by Cushman & Wakefield Stevenson.
CentrePort Canada is a 20,000-acre inland port and Foreign Trade Zone. It connects to major national and international trade gateways and corridors, and is the only inland port in the country with direct access to tri-modal transportation: truck, rail and air cargo operations.
Groupe Touchette operates more than 50 distribution centers across Canada. It also operates retail marketing programs under the Tirecraft, Integra Tire, Signature Tire, Tireland/Ici Pneu, Tire Partners/Pneu Solutions, Pneu Select, MécaniPneu, Pneus Chartrand Mécanique, Pneus Express Mécanique and Touchette Motorsport brands.
