Tire distributor Groupe Touchette has completed the expansion of its distribution centre at a Winnipeg-area trimodal inland port.

The opening almost doubles Touchette’s footprint at the 20,000-acre CentrePort site and comes after the company acquired a 6.6-acre land parcel. Touchette previously operated within a 100,000-sf facility, opened in 2020, at the port.

The company will occupy 176,000 sf across the two buildings and lease out the remaining 30,000-sf space with Cushman & Wakefield Stevenson serving as the leasing agent.

Touchette said the investment reflects the company’s long-term commitment to Manitoba and reinforces Winnipeg’s strategic importance the firm’s national distribution network.

“Winnipeg plays a key role in our Western Canadian operations,” said Paul Hyshka, Touchette’s vice-president of independent sales. “Our continued investment in this facility reflects the strong relationships we have built with customers, partners and the local business community over the past decade. We see significant opportunity for continued growth in this region and are proud to further strengthen our ability to support customers across Western Canada.”

Touchette built a 112,000-square-foot distribution centre, giving the company a 206,000-sf presence altogether at the mixed-use industrial site which straddles Winnipeg and the Rural Municipality of Rosser, Man. The new facility is situated at 20 Harvest Drive in the Brookside Industrial Park, which is located in the Rosser portion of CentrePort.

Touchette said the expanded facility strengthens the company’s ability to serve customers across Manitoba, Saskatchewan and beyond. The enhanced capacity is expected to support growing demand across key sectors, including passenger, commercial and agricultural transportation, while improving product availability and service levels for customers throughout the region, the company added.

“This expansion represents an investment in our people, our customers and the long-term success of the region,” said Hyshka.

The tire distributor initially occupied 60,000 sf in the first building before rapidly expanding its operations to full occupancy in 2023. The need for the new facility came after Touchette acquired Burlington, Ont.-based National Tire Distributors from its former U.S.-based parent American Tire Distributors in 2022.

Touchette said the expanded facility provides greater storage capacity, enabling higher inventory levels, improved stock-keeping unit (SKU) availability and enhanced service capabilities throughout Western Canada.

NTD distributes tires across Canada and the U.S. n late 2024 or early 2025.

Touchette is led by Nicolas Touchette and Frédéric Bouthillier. Founded in 1979, the Montreal-based company ranks as Canada’s largest tire distributor. Touchette specializes in value-added tire distribution services and has more than 1,800 employees and about 40 distribution centres. Operating under the TireLink and DT Tire banners, Touchette serves automobile dealers as well as independent tire retailers. Touchette also serves Canadian consumers under its retail banners Tirecraft, Integra Tire, Signature Tire, Tireland/Ici Pneu, Tire Partners/Pneu Solutions, Pneu Select, MécaniPneu, Pneus Chartrand Mécanique, Pneus Express Mécanique, Pneus Bélisle and Touchette Motorsport.

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