What Grosnor Distribution does

Grosnor Distribution Inc. is a Canadian-owned wholesale distributor of trading cards, collectibles, action figures, board games, hobby supplies, and licensed merchandise, founded in 1989 in Brampton, Ontario. The company functions as Canada's leading authorized distributor for the hobby and collectibles category, carrying 100+ product brands including Upper Deck, Panini, Topps, Pokemon USA, Konami (Yu-Gi-Oh!), Funko, Hasbro, NECA, McFarlane, Loungefly, Dark Horse Comics, and Ultra Pro. It operates two warehouse facilities (Brampton and Ajax), with the Brampton location housing a 50,000 sq ft distribution center that is set to double to 100,000 sq ft in 2026 as the company's 5th location.

Grosnor serves two distinct customer segments through a sales-led B2B distribution model. Its primary segment is Canadian specialty hobby retailers — independent card shops, toy stores, and collectibles dealers — accessed through a registered dealer account system with online ordering, pre-order access, weekly new-release communications, and same-day shipping. Its secondary segment consists of mass market retail chains, notably Walmart Canada, Toys R Us, and Bestbuy/Future Shop, with these enterprise accounts managed directly from the Ajax warehouse. A walk-in cash-and-carry showroom at the Brampton headquarters serves local walk-up customers, while out-of-province dealers order through the online B2B platform with computerized shipping and tracking. The company does not disclose pricing publicly; wholesale pricing is gated behind dealer account registration.

The business model is straightforward wholesale distribution: products are sourced from manufacturers, held in inventory, and sold one-time at wholesale prices to retailers on a pay-as-you-go basis, with no subscription or recurring revenue component. Value-added services include CGC card grading (via partnership with Certified Guaranty Company) and a Rewards Products loyalty program for dealer customers. The company is privately held by founders David Yeates (President/CEO) and Andy Nguyen (Owner), with no external institutional or private equity investment disclosed.

Name

Grosnor Distribution

Legal name

Grosnor Distribution Inc.

Website

https://grosnor.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Grosnor Distribution is a Canadian wholesale distributor of trading cards, collectibles, action figures, and hobby supplies, serving Canadian specialty hobby retailers and mass market chains like Walmart and Toys R Us from facilities in Brampton and Ajax, Ontario.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wholesale Hobby & Collectibles Distribution

NAICS

Sporting and Recreational Goods and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers (423910)

akta.pro primary industry

Collectibles & Trading Cards Distribution (CRAOAMAC)

Keywords

• Wholesale distribution
• Trading cards
• Collectibles distribution
• Hobby supplies
• Toy distribution

Headquarters

HQ city

Brampton

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Wholesale Distribution: Grosnor generates revenue through wholesale distribution of trading cards, collectibles, toys, and hobby supplies to Canadian retailers. Products are sold one-time at wholesale pricing through dealer accounts, with no subscription or recurring revenue component mentioned.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Grosnor Distribution is a Canadian wholesale distributor of trading cards, collectibles, toys, board games, die-cast models, plush, memorabilia, hobby supplies, and licensed merchandise. The company purchases products from major manufacturers and publishers and resells them at wholesale pricing to registered dealer accounts, including independent hobby retailers and mass market chains such as Walmart, Toys R Us, and Best Buy. It also operates a walk-in cash-and-carry showroom at its Brampton, Ontario headquarters for local customers.

Product overview

Grosnor Distribution is a Canadian-owned and operated sport collectable distribution company founded in 1989, serving as Canada's leading trading and game card distributor. The company operates from a 100,000 square foot distribution center in Brampton, Ontario. Its product portfolio is organized as a single unified distribution offering rather than a modular platform—it provides wholesale distribution services across multiple product categories including Sports Trading Cards (featuring MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL, Soccer, Tennis, Golf, Racing, Fighting, and Esports), Non-Sports Trading Cards (including Topps, Upper Deck, Panini, and entertainment licenses), Collectible Card Games (Pokemon TCG, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Force of Will), Board & Card Games (from publishers like Hasbro, Funko, Atlas Games), Action Figures & Toys (Funko Pop, McFarlane, NECA, Hasbro Beyblade), Die Cast models, Plush toys (Kidrobot, Funko), Memorabilia (signed and unsigned), Supplies (Ultra Pro, Dragon Shield card protection), Licensed Merchandise, Textiles/Apparel, Magazines, Miniature Games (HeroClix), Photo File products, and Blind Bags. Additional services include CGC Grading (through Certified Guaranty Company) for professional card authentication and a Rewards Products program for loyal retailers. The company targets Canadian specialty hobby retailers and operates both a wholesale distribution model and a walk-in cash-and-carry showroom for local customers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sports Trading Cards Wholesale distribution of trading cards featuring professional sports leagues including Baseball, Basketball, Football, Hockey, Soccer, Tennis, Golf, Racing, Fighting, and Esports. Includes team sets, jersey fusions, plaques, and Leaf Trading Cards. Sold to Canadian hobby retailers and mass market chains.
• Non-Sports Trading Cards Wholesale distribution of trading cards featuring entertainment properties including Cryptozoic Entertainment, Cardsmiths, Topps, Upper Deck, Panini, Rittenhouse Archives, Historic Autographs, and various licensed franchises. Sold to Canadian hobby retailers.
• Collectible Card Games Wholesale distribution of collectible card games including Pokemon TCG, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Force of Will, Alpha Clash, Soul Masters TCG, Kayou TCG, and Upper Deck Entertainment products. Sold to Canadian hobby retailers.
• Board & Card Games Wholesale distribution of traditional board games and card games from publishers including Funko, Hasbro, Atlas Games, Brotherwise Games, Czech Games, Leder Games, Level 99 Games, Rio Grande Games, Stoneblade Entertainment, and USAopoly (The OP). Sold to Canadian hobby retailers.
• Action Figures & Toys Wholesale distribution of action figures and toys from brands including Funko Pop, McFarlane, NECA, Diamond Select Toys, Hasbro Beyblade, Kidrobot, Super7, Jazwares, Dark Horse Comics, First 4 Figures, and various entertainment licensed products.
• Die Cast Wholesale distribution of die-cast vehicle models in various scales including 1:18, 1:24, 1:43, and 1:64 from brands like Jada, Maisto, and NASCAR licensed products.
• Plush Wholesale distribution of plush toys including Kidrobot, Funko, Jazwares, TUBBZ cosplaying ducks, The Noble Collection, Bleacher Creatures, and NHL teddy bears/pyjama bears.
• Memorabilia (Signed & Unsigned) Wholesale distribution of sports and entertainment memorabilia including signed and unsigned items, jerseys, and display cases for Baseball, Basketball, Football, Golf, Hockey, and Entertainment categories.
• Supplies Wholesale distribution of card and collectible protection supplies including pages, albums, binders, soft sleeves, card storage boxes, toploaders, one-touches, displays, Ultra Pro and Dragon Shield products, play mats, carrying cases, grading supplies, and comic/magazine storage.
• Licensed Merchandise Wholesale distribution of licensed merchandise including Loungefly bags and wallets, WinCraft products, Top Dog collectibles, Sher-wood, Foamheads, Sportula, Major League Socks, and various sports team licensed items.
• Textiles - Apparel Wholesale distribution of apparel including NHL licensed clothing, Loungefly items, NECA products, Woobles, t-shirts, blankets, pillows, caps, tufted rugs, gloves, fleece pullovers, and sleep pants.
• Magazines Wholesale distribution of magazine publications related to hobbies, trading cards, and collectibles.
• Miniature Games Wholesale distribution of miniature games including HeroClix and Marvel licensed miniature products from WizKids.
• Photo File Wholesale distribution of licensed sports photos from NHL, MLB, NBA, NFL, and WWE, including 8x10 hockey photos and music frames and soccer.
• Blind Bags Wholesale distribution of blind bag collectibles including various licensed characters and franchises in mystery packaging.
• General Merchandise Wholesale distribution of general merchandise including Lionel Trains, Best Value Products, Incredible Novelties, and Jada toys.
• CGC Grading Professional card grading service offered by Grosnor as Brand Manager of Grading through Certified Guaranty Company (CGC), enabling retailers to offer graded cards to their customers.
• Rewards Products Loyalty program offering special pricing and exclusive items to loyal retail customers purchasing through Grosnor.

Named customers6 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Upper DeckcoreOthersUpper Deck is a major trading card manufacturer whose products are distributed by Grosnor. Grosnor distributes Upper Deck sports trading cards, including hockey products, to Canadian retailers.
• FunkocoreOthersFunko Pop Vinyl and related products are distributed through Grosnor to Canadian retailers. Grosnor carries 282+ Funko items across multiple sub-categories.
• PaninicoreOthersPanini trading cards and sports products are distributed by Grosnor to Canadian hobby retailers.
• ToppscoreOthersTopps non-sports and sports trading cards are distributed by Grosnor to Canadian retailers.
• Pokemon USAcoreOthersPokemon trading card products are distributed by Grosnor to Canadian hobby retailers.
• Konami (Yu-Gi-Oh)coreOthersYu-Gi-Oh! TCG products are distributed by Grosnor to Canadian hobby stores and retailers.
• HasbrocoreOthersHasbro products including Beyblade are distributed by Grosnor to Canadian retailers.
• NECAcoreOthersNECA action figures, Headknockers & Novelties are distributed by Grosnor to Canadian retailers.
• McFarlanecoreOthersMcFarlane products including NHL, Halo, NBA, NFL, MLB figures are distributed by Grosnor.
• KidrobotcoreOthersKidrobot plush and vinyl toys are distributed by Grosnor to Canadian hobby retailers.
• LoungeflycoreOthersLoungefly apparel and accessories are distributed by Grosnor to Canadian retailers.
• Dark Horse ComicscoreOthersDark Horse Comics figures, art books, and puzzles are distributed by Grosnor.
• Ultra ProcoreOthersUltra Pro supplies including card sleeves, storage, and accessories are distributed by Grosnor. Grosnor also distributes Dragon Shield products.
• Diamond Select ToyscoreOthersDiamond Select Toys including Marvel Select, Ghostbusters, Star Trek, Star Wars products are distributed by Grosnor.
• Fan Expo CanadaminorOthersFan Expo Canada is listed as a partner link on Grosnor's website.
• Canada PostcoreOthersCanada Post is utilized for shipping services by Grosnor Distribution.
• FedEx CanadacoreOthersFedEx Canada is utilized for shipping services by Grosnor Distribution.
• CanparcoreOthersCanpar is utilized as a shipping carrier by Grosnor Distribution.
• CGC GradingcoreOthersGrosnor offers CGC Grading services as a Brand Manager of Grading, indicating a partnership with Certified Guaranty Company for card grading services.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Alliance Game Distributors: US-based hobby game and collectible card distributor serving retailers with products from Funko, Asmodee, and TCG publishers. Directly comparable to Grosnor in product mix (TCG, board games, hobby supplies) but operates at US scale.
• GTS Distribution: US hobby game distributor (subsidiary of GTS Inc.) that supplies trading card games, board games, and hobby products to specialty retailers. Closest direct competitor on the hobby/TCG wholesale side, offering similar multi-brand distribution to independent game stores.
• ACD Distribution: US hobby, comic and toy wholesale distributor serving specialty retailers with trading cards, comics, and action figures. Overlapping product catalog and customer base (hobby shops) makes it a strong direct peer to Grosnor's specialty channel.
• PBM Games: Canadian hobby game distributor and publisher servicing Canadian game stores with TCG, board, and miniature games. Direct Canadian peer with overlapping supplier relationships and customer segment.
• Dave & Adam's Card World: US trading card and hobby products retailer-distributor with broad inventory across sports cards, TCGs, and sealed product. Comparable in product mix and hobby customer base to Grosnor, though operates its own retail plus wholesale channel.

Broad incumbents

• Asmodee North America: Global hobby game publisher and distributor with broad catalog across board games, TCG, and collectibles. A larger, broader incumbent that competes with Grosnor on hobby distribution in Canada but at a much wider portfolio scale.
• Funko: Major pop culture collectibles manufacturer (Funko Pop vinyl, action figures) for which Grosnor is a Canadian distribution partner. Indirect peer via licensing relationships rather than direct channel overlap.

Regional players

• Esdevium Games: UK-based hobby game and TCG distributor serving European retailers. Comparable product mix (TCG, board games, hobby) but operates in a different geography from Grosnor's Canada-only footprint.

Others

• Upper Deck: Trading card and sports memorabilia publisher that is also a core supplier to Grosnor. Relevant as both an upstream partner and a potential direct distribution competitor in Canada.
• Mastermind Toys: Canadian specialty toy and hobby retailer; previously an employer of current Grosnor category manager Michael Johnson. Adjacent ecosystem participant rather than a direct competitor, but a shared customer/supplier relationship exists in the Canadian hobby channel.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/grosnordistribution
• Xx.com/grosnor_dist

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Grosnor Distribution