Dot Foods, Mt. Sterling, Ill., acquired Canada-based redistributor Marketwest.

“Moving into Canada is a logical progression for Dot, as we look to expand our operations globally,” says John Tracy, chief executive officer. “We believe this market has the potential for significant growth, and we’re very excited about the possibilities.”

Marketwest was formerly the logistics arm of PJB-Primeline, which was divided into two components—food brokerage and redistribution/logistics. 

“Marketwest is a small operation that I’ve always known has a lot of potential,” says Grant Huxtable, owner of Marketwest. “Dot is the leader in the redistribution industry in the United States and beyond, and will be able to take Marketwest and its talented employees to the next level. It’s a great fit.”

Founded in 1994, Marketwest has warehouses in Toronto and Calgary and currently delivers dry and frozen products to 120 distributors across Canada. All employees will be retained, and Marketwest will continue to operate under its current name for the next several months, with a timeline of becoming Dot Foods Canada by the end of 2016.

“We are fortunate to have an experienced operator to provide support and education during our introduction to the Canadian market,” Tracy says. “There are certainly similarities between Dot and Marketwest, but we know we have a lot to learn. We are both redistributors, but our business models do differ in some ways. And, while Dot does have customers across the globe, this is the first time we’ve established a wholly-owned operational presence outside the U.S. It’s a major milestone for us.”

Once the integration is complete, Marketwest’s customers will have access to an expanded product offering.  Dot anticipates substantially growing the team in Canada over the next year.

“The Canadian foodservice industry is robust,” Tracy adds. “We look forward to getting involved, and we have big plans for Canada. We believe Dot’s supply chain solutions can positively contribute to the industry there, just as we’ve served our manufacturer partners and customers in the U.S. for more than 50 years. ”