CN: Dot Foods and Dot Transportation Plan for Growth with the Opening of Ontario Distribution Center

Dot Foods Canada Inc., a subsidiary of Dot Foods, Inc., the largest food industry redistributor in North America, celebrated the official grand opening of its new distribution center in Ingersoll, Ontario recently.

The $50 CAD million, 168,875 square-foot facility is located at 100 Ken McKee Street and includes offices and dry, refrigerated, and frozen warehouse space. Dot and its trucking affiliate, Dot Transportation Canada, Inc., currently employ 70 people at the Ingersoll facility, most in warehouse and truck driver roles. Company leaders say that number will grow to 200 in the next three to five years.

“This is an exciting day for our Ingersoll team and in the history of our company,” said Dot Foods CEO Dick Tracy. “There is a lot of opportunity for our distribution model in Canada. We built this facility because we’ve seen incredible growth in our Canadian business in the seven years since we established operations here. We need more physical space and a larger team to keep up with the demand.”

Construction on the majority of the building wrapped up this spring. Dot moved the first loads of dry product into the warehouse in May and began stocking refrigerated and frozen products in June. Because of the large growth potential Dot sees in Canada, the company decided to further increase the size of its frozen storage warehouse; shortly after breaking ground on construction in 2022 they started work on the first ‘expansion’ while the rest of the building was actively under construction. The freezer expansion is nearly complete, and it is currently being brought down to temperature.

As part of the grand opening celebration, Tracy announced a $50,000 charitable donation to be shared by six area nonprofit organizations:

• $10,000 to the Alzheimer’s Society in London, Ontario
• $10,000 to United Way of Oxford County
• $7,500 to the Fusion Center, Ingersoll
• $7,500 to the Salvation Army in London
• $7,500 to the Salvation Army in Ingersoll
• $7,500 to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Oxford County

All of Dot Foods’ U.S. locations have a charitable committee that approves grants and coordinates volunteer opportunities for employees within the company’s five charitable areas of intent. Giving back to the community was a priority for Dot Foods co-founders Robert (RT) and Dorothy Tracy and continues to be a major focus for the company and its employees today. Dot Foods Canada will take the same charitable approach with the opening of the Ingersoll location.

The recipient groups were selected for their close alignment with the company’s charitable areas of focus. Each year Dot employees take part in two corporate fundraising campaigns—one for Alzheimer’s disease research and prevention and another for the United Way—and Dot is happy to be able to continue those partnerships in Canada.  

“We’ve hired a great group of people for our Ingersoll team,” explained Grayham Thomson, Dot Foods Canada general manager. “And we’re still looking for more. One of the things we’re all excited about is becoming more involved in our community. Supporting organizations that are doing important work, like the six groups we donated to today, is one part of it. Many of these organizations also have a need for volunteers, and we look forward to those opportunities.”

Dot initially established operations in Canada in 2016 with the purchase of Canadian food redistributor Marketwest, and set up distribution centers in Calgary, Alberta, and Brampton, Ontario. Following the move to the Ingersoll facility, Dot ended operations at the leased Brampton location over the summer. The Ingersoll distribution center features an L-shaped design, which gives Dot the ability to easily expand all warehouse and office spaces in future years, up to as much as 350,000 square feet, to meet the company’s growing customer demand in Canada. On-site garage facilities and a gate station to support the Dot Transportation Canada, Inc., fleet will be added in the next two to three years.

"Today marks a momentous occasion as we gather to celebrate the grand opening of Dot Foods in Oxford. This investment not only signifies their commitment to our region but also paves the way for a brighter future. We look forward to the positive impact Dot Foods will have in our community and are excited to witness the opportunities that lie ahead,” said Arpan Khanna, MP for Oxford.

"On behalf of the Town of Ingersoll and our residents, I want to offer congratulations to Dot Foods on the official opening of their Ingersoll facility. I would also like to offer gratitude to them for their significant investment in our town. Dot Foods' presence here is a testament to the opportunities our community has to offer world class businesses and we are truly appreciative of their commitment to Ingersoll. We look forward to a long, collaborative partnership that will bring benefits to Dot Foods, Ingersoll, and the broader region. This investment will contribute to the continued growth and prosperity of our entire community. Welcome to Ingersoll Dot Foods and thank you,” said Brian Petrie, Mayor of Ingersoll.

“Today, we come together to celebrate the grand opening of Dot Foods in Ingersoll and Oxford County. This is truly a remarkable investment in our community. With their strong presence here, we're not only looking at a prosperous future but also recognizing the pivotal role food plays in our lives. Dot Foods' commitment to excellence in the food industry is set to make a significant contribution to our region, and I'm excited about the future for the Province and Dot Foods,” said Ernie Hardeman, MPP for Oxford.

Dot selected Maple Reinders as the design-builder of the project and worked with more than 40 local and regional contractors including:  Turner Fleischer, MTE Consultants Inc., MWLA Landscape Architect, Cambridge Drywall Services Ltd., Steelcon Fabrication Inc., Lafarge Concrete, CIMCO, M&M Carnot, Janick Electric, Bering Mechanical Ltd., General Sprinkler Inc., Igloo, Alliance Roofing, and Belmont Concrete Finishing Co. Limited.

Founded in 1960 and headquartered in Mt. Sterling, Illinois, Dot Foods is North America’s largest food industry redistributor, serving all 50 states and more than 55 countries with a product offering of 125,000 items.