Pat's Auto Supply

What Pat's Auto Supply does

Pat's Auto Supply is a privately held Canadian distributor of aftermarket automotive parts founded in 1955 by Pat Gorman, who originally sold parts from a traveling bus across communities in the Peace River region. Today the company operates six retail branches across Northern Alberta and British Columbia (Grande Prairie headquarters/distribution center, Dawson Creek, Fort St John, Hinton, Peace River, and Grimshaw) plus two warehouses, with a centralized distribution center in Grande Prairie stocking millions of dollars of inventory across tens of thousands of SKUs.

The core product offering is aftermarket auto parts spanning brakes, filters, spark plugs, suspension components, exhaust systems, and performance-enhancing components, sourced from 20+ premium brands including Raybestos, Wix, SKF, Gabriel, Dayco, AC Delco, Monroe, Moog, and Dorman. The company has expanded its line card in 2024 with a Performance Zone for racing, rallying, mud-bogging, and off-road enthusiasts, alongside recent additions such as Gabriel shocks/struts, StrongArm ProGlide tailgate assist, and Spicer U-joints. The commercial technology stack is a SiteAlive Inc.-powered e-commerce platform with vehicle-specific parts lookup (year/make/model/engine), branch-level inventory display, and commercial account tooling via an ACDelco Connection portal.

Pat's operates a hybrid retail/e-commerce go-to-market selling primarily through one-time transactions at unit pricing. Customers include individual vehicle owners and SMB automotive repair shops (e.g., JTW Automotive, Rev Automotive) served via phone support, in-person counter sales, and online ordering. The company is founder-owned, has no disclosed external funding, 51-100 employees, and serves only the Canadian Peace Region market.

Name

Pat's Auto Supply

Legal name

Pat's Auto Supply, Inc.

Website

https://patsauto.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1955

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Pat's Auto Supply is a privately held Canadian aftermarket auto parts distributor serving individual vehicle owners and SMB repair shops in Northern Alberta and British Columbia through six retail branches, a Grande Prairie distribution center, and an e-commerce platform stocked with tens of thousands of SKUs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aftermarket Auto Parts Retail

NAICS

Motor Vehicle Supplies and New Parts Merchant Wholesalers (42312), Automotive Parts, Accessories, and Tire Retailers (4413), Automotive Parts and Accessories Retailers (44133)

SIC

Wholesale-Motor Vehicle Supplies & New Parts (5013), Retail-Auto & Home Supply Stores (5531), Wholesale-Motor Vehicles & Motor Vehicle Parts & Supplies (5010)

akta.pro primary industry

Maintenance, service & repair (MSR) parts distribution (filters, belts, hoses, wipers, fluids) (CRAOANAB)

Keywords

• Aftermarket auto parts
• Automotive parts distribution
• Vehicle parts retailer
• Automotive repair supplies
• Performance auto parts

Headquarters

HQ city

Grande Prairie

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Auto Parts Retail Sales: One-time transaction sales of aftermarket automotive parts and supplies to individual consumers and commercial accounts. Products sold include brakes, filters, spark plugs, suspension components, and specialized tools. No subscription or recurring revenue streams.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Pat's Auto Supply distributes and retails aftermarket automotive parts, accessories, and industrial supplies from 20+ premium brands through six physical branch locations across Northern Alberta and British Columbia and a patsauto.ca e-commerce storefront. The company serves both individual vehicle owners doing self-repair and commercial automotive repair shops via credit accounts, with a central Grande Prairie distribution center backing 1-3 business day fulfillment for out-of-stock parts.

Product overview

Pat's Auto Supply is a single unified e-commerce retail platform offering aftermarket auto parts through both online and physical store channels. The core offering includes auto parts (brakes, filters, spark plugs, suspension) plus an Industrial Catalogue for tools and equipment. Recent additions include a Performance Zone for extreme driving enthusiasts and sub-brands like Detour Auto (appearance products), Gabriel Shocks & Struts, StrongArm ProGlide Tailgate Assist, and Spicer U-Joints. The company operates 6 physical branch locations across Northern Alberta and British Columbia, with an online store supporting parts lookup, inventory search, and e-commerce checkout functionality.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Aftermarket Auto Parts Aftermarket automotive parts for vehicle maintenance and repair including brakes, filters, spark plugs, suspension components, exhaust systems, and lighting, sourced from 20+ premium brands and backed by a minimum 1-year manufacturer warranty. Sold to individual vehicle owners and commercial repair shops via counter, phone, and the patsauto.ca e-commerce store.
• Industrial Catalogue Industrial supplies and tools catalog available through the advanced search functionality on patsauto.ca, complementing the auto parts offering for shop and professional buyers.
• Performance Zone Dedicated in-stock performance parts section for racing, rallying, mud-bogging, and off-roading vehicles, supplying specialty components not carried at generalist retailers in the Peace Region.
• Detour Auto Products Automotive appearance and maintenance products under the Detour sub-brand, including headlight restore kits, windshield treatment kits, and complete windshield kits, sold via the patsauto.ca storefront.
• Gabriel Shocks & Struts Gabriel brand shock absorbers and strut assemblies for vehicle suspension service and replacement, sold through Pat's branches and online store.
• StrongArm ProGlide Tailgate Assist StrongArm ProGlide tailgate assist product for controlled, easier lowering of pickup truck tailgates, sold through Pat's branches and online store.
• Spicer U-Joints Spicer brand universal joints for automotive drivetrain applications, sold through Pat's branches and online store.

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• AC Delco ConnectionminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPat's Auto Supply offers ACDelco products and maintains a dedicated ACDelco Connection login portal for commercial account management, suggesting a distributor/reseller relationship for AC Delco auto parts brand.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• AutoZone: North America's largest auto parts specialty retailer with extensive Canadian presence. Competes directly on retail assortment and DIY customer base; Pat's regional density and B2B counter service are key differentiators versus AutoZone's box-store format.
• Canadian Tire Corporation: Canada's largest general merchandise retailer with a substantial automotive parts and accessories category (including PartSource). Competes with Pat's on consumer parts retail in the same regions, though at vastly broader scale and assortment.
• O'Reilly Auto Parts: Large North American auto parts retailer with strong DIY and commercial (Pro) programs. Operates primarily in the US but establishes the benchmark for in-store service, inventory systems, and B2B commercial programs that Pat's regional model aspires to compete with.
• NAPA Auto Parts (UAP Inc.): National Canadian auto parts distributor and retailer under the NAPA banner, supplying repair shops and consumers with new aftermarket parts. Comparable product mix and B2B/commercial focus as Pat's, but with national distribution density.
• Uni-Select / Bumper to Bumper: Major Canadian distributor of automotive aftermarket parts serving independent retailers, service centers, and wholesalers under the Bumper to Bumper, Auto Value, and FinishMaster banners. Overlaps with Pat's wholesale and B2B distribution model at much larger scale.

Regional players

• Acklands-Grainger: Canadian industrial/MRO distributor covering tools, equipment, and shop supplies — adjacent to Pat's Industrial Catalogue offering. Comparable Canadian B2B distribution model but focused on industrial/MRO rather than automotive aftermarket.
• Kal Tire: Western Canadian tire and automotive service retailer with comparable regional Alberta/BC footprint. Adjacent rather than identical — stronger on tires and installation services, lighter on general MSR parts — but competes for the same end customer.

Direct peers

• Lordco Parts Ltd. Western Canada's largest automotive parts retailer and distributor with a comparable multi-branch retail + B2B model. Directly comparable on store count, brand mix, and commercial account strategy, but operates at substantially greater scale across BC, Alberta, and beyond.

Emerging players

• RockAuto: Online-only auto parts retailer known for broad SKU depth and competitive pricing. Not a physical-store direct competitor but pressures Pat's on price and assortment for DIY and small-shop customers willing to wait for shipping.
• Princess Auto: Canadian retailer of tools, equipment, and automotive accessories, with growing e-commerce and a primarily Canadian footprint. Overlaps with Pat's on tools, garage accessories, and DIY customers in adjacent regions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/patsautosupply
• Facebookfacebook.com/PatsAutoSupply
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pats-auto-supply
• Instagraminstagram.com/patsautosupply

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 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 Pat's Auto Supply