Colabor

What Colabor does

Colabor (legal entity: Groupe Colabor Inc., TSX: GCL) is a Quebec-based foodservice distributor founded in 1962 that supplies more than 10,000 food and non-food SKUs to restaurants, hotels, institutions, independent distributors, and grocery/convenience operators across the province. The company operates five physical distribution points — Saint-Bruno, Lévis, Rimouski, Chicoutimi, and the Norref seafood division in Montreal — supported by a wholly-owned trucking subsidiary (Transport Paul-Émile Dubé Ltée.). Its commercial platform is built around two proprietary web portals: the PCI customer portal for end clients and the PGS global services portal for independent distributor partners, with an inventory-management integration to Restock for automated replenishment.

The product portfolio is organized into nine foodservice categories (grocery, proteins, produce, fish and seafood, dairy and eggs, ready-to-eat, bakery, beverages, non-food) and is anchored by two exclusive private-label brands: MENU, covering prepared foods, fries, and bakery items, and Les Pêcheries Norref, the fresh fish and seafood line. Pricing is transactional and quoted on a per-order basis, with "competitive pricing through volume purchasing" as the stated value proposition, complemented by dedicated field sales representatives and marketing via trade events such as the Salon de la restauration and the Causerie Gourmande video series.

In January 2026, the parent and three operating subsidiaries (Transport Paul-Émile Dubé Ltée., Le Groupe Resto-Achats Inc., and Norref Fisheries Quebec Inc.) filed for protection under the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act (Canada), with Raymond Chabot Inc. appointed as monitor. In April 2026, the company announced the conclusion of its Sale and Investment Solicitation Process (SISP) and the execution of definitive agreements emerging from the court-supervised process, indicating that a sale, refinancing, or recapitalization is the central strategic variable for the business going forward.

Name

Colabor

Legal name

Groupe Colabor Inc.

Website

https://colabor.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1962

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Colabor (Groupe Colabor Inc., TSX: GCL) is a Quebec-based foodservice distributor founded in 1962 that supplies more than 10,000 SKUs to restaurants, hotels, institutions, and grocers across Quebec via five distribution centers and proprietary PCI/PGS ordering portals, anchored by the MENU and Les Pêcheries Norref private labels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Foodservice Distribution

NAICS

Beer, Wine, and Distilled Alcoholic Beverage Merchant Wholesalers (4248)

SIC

Wholesale-Groceries, General Line (5141), Wholesale-Groceries & Related Products (5140)

akta.pro primary industry

Regional/Local Broadline Foodservice Distributors (AFAIAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Non-Alcoholic Beverage Wholesale (Soft Drinks, Water, Juice, RTD Coffee/Tea) (AFAIAGAB), Bar, Restaurant & On-Premise Beverage Supply Wholesale (AFAIAGAI)

Keywords

• Foodservice distribution
• Wholesale food supply
• Restaurant supply services
• Institutional food distribution
• Foodservice product distribution

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint-bruno-de-montarville

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Food Product Distribution: Distribution of over 10,000 food and non-food products to restaurants, hotels, institutions, independent distributors, and grocery stores. Revenue generated through product sales at competitive prices with delivery services.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Colabor is a Quebec-based food distributor that supplies more than 10,000 food and non-food products to restaurants, hotels, institutions, independent distributors, and grocery stores across the province. The company operates multiple distribution centers (Saint-Bruno, Lévis, Rimouski, Chicoutimi, Montreal) and sells under two exclusive private label brands, MENU and Les Pêcheries Norref, supported by proprietary online ordering portals (PCI for customers, PGS for distributor partners).

Product overview

Colabor is a Quebec-based food distributor serving restaurants, hotels, institutions, and grocers with over 10,000 food and non-food products. The company operates through two proprietary online ordering platforms: the PCI Portal (Portail de Commande Internet) for end customers and the PGS Portal (Portail Global de Services) for distributor partners. Their product portfolio is organized into 9 main categories (Grocery, Proteins, Produce, Fish & Seafood, Dairy & Eggs, Ready-to-Eat, Bakery, Beverages, Non-Food) and includes two exclusive private labels: MENU for prepared foods, bakery items, and grocery products; and Les Pêcheries Norref for fresh fish and seafood. The company operates distribution centers across Quebec (Saint-Bruno, Lévis, Rimouski, Chicoutimi) and offers 24/7 online ordering with customer-focused sales representatives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MENU: Private label brand offering a wide range of food products including fries, bakery items, proteins, and grocery products.
• Les Pêcheries Norref

Products and services

• Food Distribution Services Core foodservice distribution service providing over 10,000 products to restaurants, hotels, institutions, independent distributors, and grocery stores across Quebec, with reliable on-time delivery, competitive pricing, and dedicated sales representatives.
• MENU Private Label Brand Exclusive private label brand offering prepared foods, fries, bakery items, proteins, and grocery products at competitive prices to foodservice professionals across Quebec, with an emphasis on local Quebec sourcing.
• Les Pêcheries Norref (Norref Fisheries)

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Raymond Chabot Inc.minorOthers · 8 April 2026Court-appointed monitor for CCAA restructuring proceedings initiated January 8, 2026. Provided oversight during the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act proceedings.
• Saint-ArneaultcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2025Exclusive collaboration for 100% Quebec-grown potato fries under the MENU private brand. Saint-Arneault provides potato processing expertise while MENU/Colabor handles distribution to Quebec foodservice establishments. The partnership guarantees a fully local supply chain from farm to kitchen.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Gordon Food Service: Gordon Food Service is a major family-owned broadline foodservice distributor with strong Canadian presence, serving restaurants, hotels, and institutions across multiple provinces. Operates distribution centers and offers exclusive private-label products comparable to MENU and Les Pêcheries Norref.
• Flanagan Foodservice: Flanagan Foodservice is one of Canada's largest family-owned broadline foodservice distributors, headquartered in Ontario serving customers across Ontario and Western Canada. Direct competitor in the broadline foodservice distribution space with comparable product breadth and customer segments.

Broad incumbents

• US Foods: US Foods is a large publicly-traded broadline foodservice distributor in the United States, serving restaurants and institutional customers. While primarily U.S.-focused, it represents a comparable business model and competitive benchmark for Canadian operators.
• Performance Food Group: Performance Food Group operates broadline foodservice distribution across North America through its Performance Foodservice segment. Comparable in scale and category breadth; serves restaurants, healthcare, and educational institutions similar to Colabor's segments.
• Sysco Corporation: Sysco is the largest broadline foodservice distributor in North America, with significant operations across Canada including Quebec. Highly comparable direct competitor serving restaurants, hotels, and institutions with multi-category food and non-food distribution.

Others

• Metro Inc. Metro Inc. is a major Quebec-based grocery and pharmacy retailer with deep provincial roots. While a retailer rather than distributor, it shares Quebec geographic concentration and benefits from local sourcing trends that also drive Colabor's MENU private-label strategy.
• Empire Company (Sobeys): Empire Company owns Sobeys, Safeway, and other grocery banners across Canada including Quebec. Comparable as a Canadian food distributor/retailer serving grocery and convenience segments that overlap with Colabor's grocery customer base.

Regional players

• Centennial Foodservice: Centennial Foodservice is a Western Canadian broadline foodservice distributor serving restaurants, hotels, and institutions primarily in Alberta and BC. Comparable broadline distribution model but operates in different geography than Quebec-focused Colabor.

Emerging players

• Highliner Foods: Highliner Foods is Canada's largest seafood processor and a leading North American frozen seafood brand. Comparable to Les Pêcheries Norref's fish and seafood product focus and shared Canadian food industry presence.
• Restaurant Depot: Restaurant Depot is a cash-and-carry foodservice supply warehouse club serving restaurants and foodservice operators. While primarily U.S.-based, it represents an alternative distribution model for foodservice customers that competes for the same SMB restaurant segment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@colabor6595

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries5 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 Colabor