Modern Sales Co-op
Modern Sales Co-op is a Canadian wholesale cooperative linking 400+ vendors with 450+ member locations nationwide, distributing automotive, industrial, safety, and related product categories through a central purchasing platform and the CYLINK online ordering system.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1940
- HeadquartersBarrie, Canada
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Modern Sales Co-op does
Modern Sales Co-op is a Canadian wholesale cooperative headquartered in Barrie, Ontario that connects more than 400 vendors with over 450 member locations across Canada. Founded in the late 1930s and operating for 80+ years, the organization runs a two-sided distribution platform serving independent business owners with a diversified product portfolio that spans automotive parts, heavy duty truck supplies, tools and equipment, hardware, janitorial and sanitation, farm supplies, marine parts, safety supplies, paint and body supplies, and industrial supplies. The cooperative describes itself as Canada's most diverse co-operative and emphasizes long-term vendor relationships, member equality, fairness, and nationwide distribution scale.
The cooperative monetizes through three primary channels: recurring membership participation and fees, transactional distribution activity at its Barrie and Langley warehouses, and co-operative advertising programs run through the Commercial and Industrial Products Catalogue. Go-to-market is structurally channel-driven: vendor acquisition focuses on long-term relationships and financial responsibility, while member acquisition relies on the cooperative's longevity, reputation, and nation-wide advertising initiatives. Two proprietary technology assets underpin member engagement — the Modern Sales Co-op Member Extranet web portal (providing bulletins, order catalogs, vendor look-ups, MSDS data, downloadable price files, product demand files, store finder, and event listings) and CYLINK, an online ordering platform repeatedly endorsed by members such as Dempster's Auto for ease of use, functionality, and customer support.
Operationally the firm maintains its head office distribution centre in Barrie, Ontario plus warehouse operations in Langley, British Columbia to support coast-to-coast service. Governance and compliance posture includes AODA accessibility reporting (2020 and 2023 Accessibility Compliance Reports), a published Supplier Code of Conduct, and a 2024 Bill S-211 forced labour supply chain report. The entity is privately held under member ownership, has no parent company, no disclosed external equity or funding history, and is not publicly traded.
Modern Sales Co-op firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Modern Sales Co-op
- Legal name
- Modern Sales Co-op
- Website
- https://modernsales.ca
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1940
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Modern Sales Co-op is a Canadian wholesale cooperative linking 400+ vendors with 450+ member locations nationwide, distributing automotive, industrial, safety, and related product categories through a central purchasing platform and the CYLINK online ordering system.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Modern Sales Co-op is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Barrie
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Modern Sales Co-op business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Member Fees and Participation: Members pay fees to join and participate in the co-operative, gaining access to enhanced buying power, vendor connections, and nationwide distribution network.
- Product Distribution: As a distribution organization, Modern Sales Co-op generates revenue through the sale and distribution of automotive parts, heavy duty truck supplies, tools, equipment, hardware, janitorial, farm supplies, marine parts, safety supplies, paint and body supplies, and industrial supplies to member locations.
- Co-op Advertising Programs: Provides advertising opportunities for vendors and members through the Commercial and Industrial Products Catalogue and custom co-op advertising programs designed to help members increase sales volume and highlight product ranges.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
Modern Sales Co-op product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Modern Sales Co-op is a Canadian wholesale distribution cooperative that links more than 400 vendors with over 450 member locations across Canada. It supplies independent retailers and businesses with a diversified range of products spanning automotive, heavy duty truck, tools and equipment, hardware, janitorial, farm, marine, safety, paint and body, and industrial categories. Members gain access to centralized procurement, vendor relationships, and digital ordering through the Member Extranet and CYLINK platforms.
Product overview
Modern Sales Co-op is a Canadian distribution co-operative that operates as a unified product distribution platform linking over 400 vendors with 450+ member locations across Canada. The organization offers two main product/service offerings: (1) A diverse portfolio of physical product categories including Heavy Duty Truck, Tools & Equipment, Hardware, Janitorial/Sanitation, Automotive Parts, Farm Supplies, Marine Parts, Safety Supplies, Paint & Body Supplies, and Industrial Supplies; and (2) The Modern Sales Co-op Member Extranet, a web-based portal providing members with business management tools, communication features, and access to vendor information and pricing files.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Heavy Duty Truck Parts & Supplies
Companies that use Modern Sales Co-op
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Modern Sales Co-op technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Modern Sales Co-op partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators4 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Modern Sales Co-op competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Grainger (W.W. Grainger): U.S.-headquartered broad-line industrial MRO distributor with significant Canadian operations (Acklands-Grainger). Overlaps with Modern Sales' hardware, safety, janitorial, tools, and industrial product lines and competes for the same mid-market B2B buyers.
- Wajax Corporation: Canadian distributor of industrial equipment, heavy-duty truck parts, and related products. Comparable to Modern Sales' heavy duty truck, tools, and industrial supplies categories, and operates a similar Canada-wide branch network serving industrial buyers.
- HD Supply (now The Home Depot Pro): Large North American industrial/MRO and specialty distribution platform. Comparable to Modern Sales' industrial supplies, hardware, and safety categories at greater scale, though primarily U.S.-focused and lacking the co-op member-network element.
- Acklands-Grainger (Canada): Canadian industrial MRO and safety products distributor owned by W.W. Grainger. Overlaps with Modern Sales' hardware, tools, safety, janitorial, and industrial supply categories and serves many of the same mid-market buyers, but at significantly greater scale.
Regional players
- Federated Co-operatives Limited (FCL): Western Canada's largest co-operative, supplying retail, grocery, energy, and farm services to member co-ops. Shares the multi-category co-operative wholesale structure with Modern Sales but is far larger, primarily Western Canadian, and centered on grocery/energy rather than automotive/industrial.
- The North West Company: Canadian retail and wholesale distributor serving northern, remote, and underserved communities across Canada. Comparable as a Canada-only multi-category wholesale/distribution platform, though focused on retail rather than industrial supply.
Direct peers
- Aftermarket Auto Parts Alliance (Auto Value / Parts Plus): North American buying group and distribution network for independent auto parts stores, operating under the Auto Value and Parts Plus banners. Closely mirrors Modern Sales' vendor-to-member wholesale cooperative model in the automotive aftermarket, though U.S.-headquartered.
- Orgill Canada: Global hardlines wholesale distributor serving independent hardware retailers, home centers, and farm stores. Closely mirrors Modern Sales' wholesale distribution model for hardware, tools, and farm supplies to independent member businesses across Canada.
- Uni-Select Inc. (Bumper to Bumper Canada): Major Canadian automotive parts distributor and buying group (Bumper to Bumper) that links independent jobbers and installers with parts suppliers. Directly comparable to Modern Sales' automotive parts distribution and member-network model, though Uni-Select is significantly larger and more automotive-focused.
Emerging players
- Peavey Industries / TSC Stores: Canadian farm, ranch, and rural retail co-operative-style operator. Overlaps with Modern Sales' farm supplies and tools categories and shares a rural Canadian distribution footprint, though primarily retail rather than wholesale cooperative.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Modern Sales Co-op social profiles
Digital presenceModern Sales Co-op compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Modern Sales Co-op financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Modern Sales Co-op leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Modern Sales Co-op funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Modern Sales Co-op M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Modern Sales Co-op
What does Modern Sales Co-op do?
Modern Sales Co-op is a Canadian wholesale distribution cooperative that links more than 400 vendors with over 450 member locations across Canada. It supplies independent retailers and businesses with a diversified range of products spanning automotive, heavy duty truck, tools and equipment, hardware, janitorial, farm, marine, safety, paint and body, and industrial categories. Members gain access to centralized procurement, vendor relationships, and digital ordering through the Member Extranet and CYLINK platforms.
Is Modern Sales Co-op a public or private company?
Modern Sales Co-op is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was Modern Sales Co-op founded?
Modern Sales Co-op was founded in 1940. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Modern Sales Co-op based?
Modern Sales Co-op is headquartered in Barrie, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Modern Sales Co-op make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Member Fees and Participation is the primary driver. The others are product Distribution and co-op Advertising Programs.
Who are Modern Sales Co-op's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Grainger (W.W. Grainger), Wajax Corporation, HD Supply (now The Home Depot Pro) and Acklands-Grainger (Canada). Regional players are Federated Co-operatives Limited (FCL) and The North West Company. Direct peers are Aftermarket Auto Parts Alliance (Auto Value / Parts Plus), Orgill Canada and Uni-Select Inc. (Bumper to Bumper Canada). Peavey Industries / TSC Stores is listed as an emerging player.
Does Modern Sales Co-op have an API?
No public API is recorded for Modern Sales Co-op.