Two of Canada’s oldest, family-owned tire businesses announced that Kal Tire, which opened its first store in British Columbia 70 years ago, has acquired Frisby Tire, a household name for many Ottawa drivers since the 1920’s.
As of May 27, Frisby Tire’s five retail and commercial stores will be operated by Kal Tire. Total Tire Distributors, a wholly owned subsidiary of Kal Tire, will acquire Frisby’s existing wholesale operations.
“Since our early days, Kal Tire has looked for opportunities to grow by considering well-run businesses that have dedicated team members who strive to provide customers with an exceptional level of service,” says Robert Foord, President of Kal Tire, which now has more than 260 stores from coast to coast. “We know from our long-standing relationship that Frisby Tire has all of those attributes, and we’re pleased to link our teams and capabilities and join the community they’ve built in Ottawa.”
Frisby Tire turned 100 in 2020
Having celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2020, Frisby Tire is considered the oldest, independently-owned tire dealer in Canada. James Frisby’s business was a success from the start and grew to a chain of five retail and commercial tire stores in the Ottawa area. Don Frisby became the third-generation leader of the business in 1995. Since then, Don Frisby’s voice has become a familiar one on local airwaves, along with the store’s motto: ‘Service that satisfies.’
“It’s always been so important to us that our customers are happy with their experience, and we feel very fortunate to know that will only continue with Kal Tire’s culture of service-oriented values,” says Frisby, who took great care to find a partner that would also treat his many long-standing team members like family. “Some of our technicians have worked here their whole lives. We’ve built this legacy together and I know they’re all in the very best hands.”
52 team members will join Kal Tire
Fifty-two team members will join Kal Tire as the company begins to operate Frisby Tire stores on Industrial Avenue, Somerset Street West, Queensdale Avenue, Clyde Avenue and Hazeldean Road in Ottawa.
Total Tire Distributors Inc. will acquire Frisby Tire’s warehouse and wholesale distribution facility at Humber Place in Ottawa and also welcome those 26 team members to the Total Tire team.
In recent years, Kal Tire has focused on bringing customers across Canada easier, even more, helpful ways to buy and maintain tires and vehicles, such as convenient and secure online appointment bookings, a best-in-class guided online tire shopping experience, expanded mechanical offerings and safe tire storage at Kal’s Tire Lodge.
