Distribution Stox has opened a major new distribution centre in Vaughan as it expands its capacity to serve the Ontario tire and wheel market.
The company held a grand opening Oct. 1 for suppliers, industry representatives and employees at the 280,000-square-foot facility, which replaces its former Greater Toronto Area operation in Brampton.
Distribution Stox, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, operates 29 distribution centres across Canada and a fleet of more than 250 delivery trucks. The theme for the new Vaughan facility is “We’re Picking Up Speed in Ontario.”
“It’s also more than a warehouse for us. It’s a very significant investment in Ontario and nationally here in Canada,” said Mark Pereira, Vice-President, Sales – Ontario and National Key Accounts at Unimax, parent company of Distribution Stox. “It’s a major upgrade in how we service our customers and how we work with manufacturers.”
Pereira told Canadian auto dealer the company’s previous GTA facility had reached capacity. The additional space in Vaughan allows Distribution Stox to carry more inventory tailored to the GTA while also supplying its other Ontario operations, including Barrie, Belleville and Sudbury.
Distribution Stox carries tire brands including Bridgestone, Continental, Goodyear, Hankook, Michelin, Nexen, Pirelli, Sailun, Toyo and Yokohama. The facility also expands Unimax’s ability to distribute wheels following its April 2025 acquisition of Macpek’s RSSW division.
Pereira said positioning RSSW inventory in Vaughan means customers in the GTA can receive same-day or next-day delivery of wheels — service that was more difficult when products had to be shipped from Quebec. RSSW now has locations in Quebec City, Vaughan and Edmonton.
“We’re able to carry so much more inventory in Vaughan and all the specialty product that the GTA market demands,” said Pereira. The facility also allows the company to hold inventory that can be supplied to its other Ontario distribution points.
“If you want to be a serious player in the Ontario market and in the national landscape, you need to have this,” he said. “It’s what the customers expect and demand. We have to have the inventory on hand, and you’re only able to do that by investing in something of this size and scale.”
Pereira said Distribution Stox serves a broad range of automotive customers, including dealership groups, OEMs and independent repair facilities.
“If you buy and sell wheels to customers, we buy and sell them to you,” he said. “We want to make sure every business in the automotive sector has access to wheels and tires from us and can count on us for deliveries when they need it, fair pricing and the best service we can deliver.”
Maxime-Olivier Gauthier, Vice-President, Marketing and Communications at Unimax, told guests at the grand opening that the new facility reflects the company’s continued investment in Ontario.
“Tonight is much more than a building for us, and we hope it’s much more than a building for you guys as well,” said Gauthier. “This facility represents just another milestone for us.”
He said Unimax has continued investing in Ontario in recent years because of its confidence in the market’s long-term potential.
