Laval, Quebec-based President Tire Canada, the 10th largest tire distribution group in North America, plans to strengthen its presence in the Maritimes and Canada's western provinces as the year progresses.
President Tire has signed more than a dozen dealers to its franchise program in the Maritimes over the past few months, according to President Tire spokesman Denis Monette.
President Tire currently has 140 franchise dealers.
"In Nova Scotia, we want to establish 15 franchises within a year," Monette says.
The group also has opened two new warehouses in the Maritimes since last summer, boosting its number of distribution centers there to four.
Next on the agenda are Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia, Monette says.
President Tire is transferring its 18,000-square-foot, Surrey, B.C., warehouse to a bigger facility within the city "that will help us continue our expansion."
It also plans to build a 15,000- to 25,000-square-foot warehouse in Calgary, Alberta, later this year.
Back east, President Tire also is buying a new, 34,000-square-foot distribution center in Toronto, Canada.
President Tire sells its own President private label tire made by Michelin Americas Small Tires, Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. and Bridgestone/Firestone Americas Holding Co.
It also offers Kumho, Pirelli, BFGoodrich, Dayton and General brand tires, among others.
The group reported $60 million (Canadian) in sales for the year 2000.
