Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Kal Tire eyes city outlets

Winnipeg Free Press 03/29/2011
A B.C.-based tire dealer has made Winnipeg one of its expansion targets.  Kal Tire, headquartered in Vernon, B.C., has minor zoning variance applications before a city committee for two new locations -- at 1343 McPhillips St. and 3380 Portage Av. in Westwood.  The buildings would each have seven bay service doors and measure just under 7,900 square feet.  An official with the company said, "As an organization, we want to grow. Winnipeg is a large market and it's not fully developed."  Kal Tire is a wholly owned Canadian company that has grown to become Canada's largest independent tire dealer. There are 220 locations across the country including three locations already in Winnipeg.  In comparison there are 12 locations in Calgary and three in Regina, a city less than half the size of Winnipeg. The 50-year-old company has expanded steadily and has most of its locations concentrated in Western Canada, but it does have 23 locations in Ontario. It has 174 company-owned branches and 54 independent associate dealers.  It sells and services Bridgestone, Firestone, Michelin, Yokohama, Kumho, Nokian, Falken, Nitto, and Multi-Mile products.

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