What A-Way Express does

A-Way Express is a Toronto-based local courier and delivery service founded in 1987, operating across the Greater Toronto Area from Hamilton to Oshawa and up to Newmarket. The company delivers 15,000+ packages annually and serves a distributed base of small and mid-sized business customers spanning e-commerce, legal/financial, restaurants and catering, florists, and general business. Named customers include Goodwood Flowers, Out of This World Cafe & Catering, and Vision Care Clinic. The service menu covers same-day, rush, and next-day delivery with pricing starting at $11+ per package for next-day downtown deliveries and tiered volume discounts kicking in at 15+ packages, indicating a meaningful contract-account base alongside spot-rate work.

A-Way Express operates a social-enterprise employment model, hiring people with lived experience of mental illness and operating the Peer Recovery Employment Program (PREP), through which 60-80 participants annually receive training and employment pathways. The company is recognized as a Health Service Provider funded by Ontario Health (Toronto Region), which underwrites the employment mission. The workforce comprises 45 employees with lived experience of mental illness, supplemented by PREP program participants. Operations are anchored at 2168 Danforth Avenue in Toronto.

The technology stack consists of conventional operational software rather than AI-driven systems. A proprietary Digital Waybill system has been in place since 2017 to digitize dispatch and proof-of-delivery. In 2026, the company launched a Shopify Delivery App integration to plug its local courier network into Shopify-based e-commerce merchants' checkout and fulfillment workflows. The company has a 4.8-star Google rating and has received TorStar Reader's Choice Awards. Executive Director Katherine Roos leads the organization. The business model combines per-package delivery revenue with Ontario Health funding that subsidizes the peer-recovery employment mission.

Name

A-Way Express

Legal name

A-Way Express

Website

https://awayexpress.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

A-Way Express is a Toronto-based local courier founded in 1987 that delivers 15,000+ packages annually across the GTA for SMB customers in e-commerce, legal, restaurant, and floral verticals, while operating as a Health Service Provider employing people with lived experience of mental illness through its PREP program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Local Courier and Delivery Services

NAICS

Local Messengers and Local Delivery (49221), Couriers and Express Delivery Services (4921)

SIC

Transportation Services (4700)

akta.pro primary industry

Same-Day / On-Demand Express Courier (TLAAABAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

E-commerce Express (Fast/Next-Day for Online Retailers) (TLAAABAF)

Keywords

• Local courier services
• Same-day delivery
• E-commerce fulfillment
• Social enterprise logistics
• Scheduled delivery runs

Headquarters

HQ city

Toronto

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Same-Day Delivery: Delivery within the same business day for time-sensitive local shipments. Priced at 1.1x standard rate.
2. Next-Day Delivery: Reliable delivery by the next business day. Most cost-effective option with rates starting from $11.00 in Downtown Toronto.
3. Rush (2-Hour) Delivery: Priority delivery within approximately 2 hours. Priced at 1.5x standard rate.
4. Urgent (1-Hour) Delivery: Immediate, direct delivery within downtown core. Fastest service available at 2x standard rate.
5. Volume Discounts: 10% discount for businesses sending 15 packages or more. Custom contract pricing available for large volume accounts with recurring delivery needs.
6. Contract Customer Services: Year-round delivery service for contract customers, including after-hours and weekend deliveries. Monthly invoicing available for business accounts.
7. Flyer Distribution: Door-to-door flyer delivery for organizations needing targeted outreach. Includes pickup, route planning, and delivery confirmation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

A-Way Express is a Toronto-based local courier company providing same-day, next-day, rush (2-hour), and urgent (1-hour downtown) delivery services across the Greater Toronto Area, supplemented by scheduled routes, flyer distribution, special handling for fragile items, volume discounts, and pick-and-pack fulfillment. The company operates as a social enterprise Health Service Provider funded by Ontario Health, employing 45 people with lived experience of mental illness annually while serving e-commerce merchants, law firms, restaurants, florists, healthcare providers, and general businesses. A Shopify app integration enables automated order flow and same-day delivery for Toronto Shopify merchants.

Product overview

A-Way Express is a Toronto-based local courier company operating since 1987 that offers a unified delivery platform with multiple service tiers and integration options. The core offering centers on time-based delivery services (Standard Next-Day, Same-Day, Rush 2-Hour, and Urgent 1-Hour), supplemented by add-on services including Special Handling for fragile items, Volume Discounts for bulk shippers, and Pick and Pack fulfillment support. The product portfolio includes a Shopify Integration app for e-commerce merchants and Digital Waybill software for order management. Scheduled Deliveries and Flyer Distribution round out the offering for recurring and bulk needs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PREP: Peer Recovery Employment Program - a strengths-based employment program for adults with lived experience of mental health or substance use challenges, offering one-to-one employment coaching and a weekly peer-led group.

Products and services

• Standard Next-Day Delivery Reliable courier delivery by the next business day across Toronto and the GTA, priced on a zone-based system. Targeted at businesses needing dependable, lower-cost local shipments.
• Same-Day Delivery Delivery within the same business day for time-sensitive local shipments, with cutoff times of 1:00 pm (2:00 pm downtown) and priced at 1.1x the standard zone-based rate.
• Rush (2-Hour) Delivery Priority delivery within approximately 2 hours of order placement, booked by phone by 1:00 pm, priced at 1.5x the standard rate. Targeted at businesses with tight timelines.
• Urgent (1-Hour, Downtown) Delivery Immediate, direct delivery within the downtown core, priced at 2x the standard rate and arranged by phone. A-Way's fastest service tier for urgent needs.
• Scheduled Deliveries Flexible scheduling for daily, weekly, or monthly delivery runs, with consistent courier assignments, for interoffice mail, supply drops, and regular client deliveries.
• Flyer Distribution Targeted, door-to-door flyer delivery by trained foot couriers, including pickup from the client's location or printer, flexible same-day or scheduled timing, and a final report upon completion.
• Special Handling Extra-care handling for delicate, oversized, or high-value items including artwork, floral arrangements, computer equipment, specialty foods, and custom fashion items, with dollies, carts, blankets, and two-person service available.
• Volume Discounts 10% discount offered when sending 15 packages or more (booked one day in advance), with custom contract pricing available for large volume accounts and recurring routes.
• Pick and Pack Services Fulfillment support for select e-commerce partners, coordinating closely with delivery to reduce handoffs and streamline fulfillment for time-sensitive or locally distributed orders.
• Digital Waybill Digital waybill software enabling order management and dispatch, implemented in 2017 to better serve Toronto businesses with automated order processing and tracking.
• Shopify Delivery App Native Shopify app enabling same-day local delivery for Toronto Shopify merchants. Orders sync automatically, with real-time delivery status updates and proof of delivery sent to customers. Free to install with no monthly fees; compatible with all Shopify plans.
• Business Account / Contract Service Contract customer service with monthly invoicing, credit card on file option, custom contract pricing, 365-day delivery, and after-hours/weekend coverage for large volume and recurring business accounts.

Quantifiable outcome

• 4.8-star Google Review Rating
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered foundational, core and minor.

• Progress PlacefoundationalStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1985Original founding community partner. Community members at Progress Place were interested in finding meaningful work opportunities, leading to A-Way's creation.
• Neighbours Community Homes (formerly Houselink Community Homes)foundationalStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1985Original founding community partner along with Progress Place, seeking meaningful work opportunities for community members.
• Second HarvestcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFood rescue partnership to stock the A-Way pantry. $30,000 in rescued food redistributed annually. Employees and community members access food through this partnership.
• East Toronto Health PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated healthcare network providing referrals and coordinated care for employees and community members.
• ShopifycoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology integration partner providing A-Way Express app in Shopify App Store. Free app enables automated order sync, same-day delivery, and proof of delivery for Shopify merchants.
• Fred VictorminorOthersCommunity partner organization listed as supporter of A-Way's programs.
• Gerstein CentreminorOthersCommunity partner organization listed as supporter of A-Way's programs.
• Parkdale Project (PP+)minorOthersCommunity partner organization listed as supporter of A-Way's programs.
• Association of Mental Health Organizations (AMHO)minorOthersIndustry association membership demonstrating A-Way's role in the mental health sector.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks2 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about A-Way Express