Canadian Tire Corporation (CTC) operates more than 1,700 retail and gas locations across Canada under banners including Canadian Tire, Mark's, SportChek, Sport Experts, Hockey Experts, Atmosphere, Party City, PartSource, and Pro Hockey Life. With retail revenue exceeding $14.7 billion and a $2 billion "True North" growth strategy in motion, the company represents one of the largest retail distribution networks in the country.

For vendors, landing shelf space or website placement with Canadian Tire means reaching millions of Canadian consumers across categories spanning automotive, hardware, sporting goods, home and living, and seasonal products. For consumer goods brands in particular, CTC is one of the most significant retail accounts in the country. But CTC runs a tightly controlled supply chain with strict compliance standards, and vendors who fail to meet them face fines, chargebacks, and potential delisting.

This guide walks through what it takes to become a Canadian Tire vendor, from initial registration through ongoing compliance, based on the official Vendor Guide and Online Assortment Program documentation. If you are a D2C brand entering retail distribution for the first time, why scaling into retail requires a systems mindset provides useful context on the operational shift ahead.

How the Canadian Tire Vendor Onboarding Process Works

Becoming a Canadian Tire vendor follows a structured five-step process. Each phase involves specific documentation, system access, and negotiations.

Step 1: Register in the Vendor Gateway

The process starts at the Canadian Tire Supplier Opportunities portal on the corporate website. You complete a vendor registration form through the Vendor Gateway, CTC's online system for managing sourcing activities, product quotations, and contractual information. Once accepted, you register your shipping locations.

Before any purchase orders are issued, you must provide:

• A Certificate of Liability Insurance with a minimum of $5,000,000 per occurrence and annual aggregate coverage, written on an occurrence basis

• CTC, its affiliates, Canadian Tire Retailers, and authorized selling entities named as additional insured parties

• Current financial statements or a credit report (may be requested)

• 30 days written notice required for any insurance policy changes or cancellations

Step 2: Participate in a Sourcing Review

If Canadian Tire is interested in your product category, you will receive a Request for Quote (RFQ) through the Vendor Gateway. Training modules and documents guide you through this process. You add all shipping locations to your company profile and respond to the RFQ with pricing, product details, and terms.

Step 3: Contract Negotiations

Negotiations may cover quote cost, discounts, allowances, rebates, and vendor support funds. You may be asked to revise information in the RFQ to align with CTC guidelines. Key contract documents include the Purchase Agreement, Product Quotation Form, Vendor Support Agreement, Product Safety Information Form, and Material Safety Data Sheets where applicable.

Step 4: Onboarding and System Setup

After the final contract is signed, you receive information about how CTC operates in areas like supply chain and accounts payable. During onboarding, you are set up on several systems:

• Vendor Gateway for pricing, cost activities, and FOB profile management

• WebForms (SPS Commerce) for electronic document exchange, mandatory for all vendors

• Data Vault for SKU attributes, packaging information, dimensions, and product data

• EDI for purchase orders, invoices, ship notices, and forecasts

Step 5: First Shipment Preparation

Other CTC team members may contact you for setup on key processes and training support to ensure a successful first shipment. This includes supply chain education through CTC's Supplier Education eLearning program.

EDI and Electronic Commerce Requirements

Canadian Tire requires all vendors to transact electronically. Paper purchase orders are not accepted. New vendors start on WebForms through SPS Commerce, and can later transition to direct EDI or a third-party EDI service. If you are evaluating EDI providers or preparing your ERP for integration, the EDI integration readiness guide covers common mapping mistakes that cause chargebacks and shipping delays.

Required EDI Documents

The core electronic documents you must be able to send and receive:

• EDI 830: Supplier Forecast of future planned purchases (updated every Friday by CTC)

• EDI 850: Purchase Order

• EDI 860: Purchase Order Change

• RPA: Request for Pick-up or Appointment (CTC proprietary, WebForms only)

• RPA Response: Confirmation with shipment number (WebForms only)

• EDI 856: Advance Ship Notice (ASN)

• EDI 810: Merchandise Invoice

The RPA and RPA Response are unique to Canadian Tire and cannot be sent via standard EDI. WebForms remains mandatory for these documents even if you switch to EDI for everything else.

The Dynamic Window

Purchase order changes must be communicated to your Replenishment Analyst within the first 72 hours after PO completion, known as the Dynamic Window. Changes requested within this window carry no fine. Changes requested after the window closes can affect your Vendor Fill Rate and result in penalties.

EDI for the Online Assortment Program

Vendors in the Online Assortment (eCommerce) program have two additional EDI requirements:

• EDI 846: Daily Inventory Inquiry, sent at least twice daily, informing CTC of available stock. Products only appear on canadiantire.ca when inventory is confirmed.

• EDI 855: Purchase Order Acknowledgment, sent within one business day of receiving a PO. A quantity of zero or a date change on the 855 triggers PO cancellation.

Online Assortment vendors must also integrate with Rithum's DSCO platform for order fulfillment. For brands expanding into EDI-connected eCommerce channels, the additional document types and inventory feed cadence add complexity that should be accounted for during setup.

Packaging, Labeling, and Product Compliance

Canadian Tire enforces detailed standards for how products are packaged, labeled, and prepared for distribution. Non-compliance results in rework charges and fines.

Bilingual Packaging (English and French)

All consumer packaging must be bilingual and comply with Quebec's Charter of the French Language. French must be featured at least as prominently as any other language on products, containers, wrappings, directions, and warranties. Fines for non-compliance range from $500 to $1,400 for a first offense and $1,000 to $7,000 for each subsequent offense.

UPC Requirements

Every product must carry a scannable 12- or 13-digit UPC (14-digit GTINs are not currently accepted). Each color, size, and pattern variation needs its own unique UPC. Labels must be tamper-proof or use permanent adhesive. Promotional or bonus packs require separate UPCs with previous codes covered by a semi-permanent adhesive label.

Non-compliance carries a $1,000 CAD/USD fine per shipment plus rework charges of $100 CAD per hour (minimum $200).

Canadian Tire Product Number

CTC assigns an 8-digit product number in the format 000-0000. This number must appear on all packaging levels except the consumer unit. For private label brands, the number must be printed on consumer packaging. For national brands, CTC recommends including it but does not require it on the consumer unit.

Master Carton Standards

Cartons must meet Edge Crush Test (ECT) specifications appropriate to their weight class. Mullen Burst testing is not accepted. Required pictograms include "This Way Up" and "Stacking Limitation" markings on all four vertical facings if the carton contains consumer units.

Preferred carton style is the Regular Slotted Container (RSC). Avoid round or irregularly shaped containers. "1-2-3" bottom containers (not fully sealed) are not permitted.

Product Safety and Regulatory Compliance

All products must comply with Canadian laws, regulations, and standards, including the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act. Vendors are responsible for conducting safety tests and maintaining documentation of certifications. CTC has the right to audit vendor facilities, test merchandise, and inspect for compliance with performance, safety, structural packaging, and reliability standards.

Products containing hazardous components require subscription to the UL WERCSmart platform at the vendor's expense, plus current Safety Data Sheets in English and French.

Batch Code Requirements

Every product must carry a batch code enabling traceability to specific raw materials, distribution records, and production runs. The code must be permanent (engraving, stamping, or non-removable label) and appear on master cartons, consumer packaging, and the product itself. Acceptable format: DWWYY (Day of week/Week number/Year).

Shipping, Logistics, and Supply Chain Standards

Canadian Tire's supply chain runs through four main distribution centers and three automotive depots. Vendor compliance with shipping procedures directly affects fill rate scores and chargeback exposure.

Distribution Center Locations

• AJ Billes DC (05): 8550 Goreway Drive

• Bolton DC (04): 8400 Healey Road

• Calgary DC (07): 6336 - 114th Avenue SE

• Montreal DC (08): 50 Dupont Blvd

• Automotive Depots: Vaughan (51), Montreal (55), Calgary (83)

Shipment Terms

Most vendors ship on collect terms, meaning Canadian Tire arranges pick-up and pays freight. At pick-up, CTC carriers verify skid counts only. A detailed count is performed at the DC, and any discrepancies are verified by a second individual.

RPA (Request for Pick-up or Appointment) Process

The RPA must be submitted via WebForms at least 7 calendar days before the PO due date, by 4:30 p.m. Central Time. It can be submitted as early as 30 days before the due date.

Key RPA rules:

• One RPA per trailer load

• Consolidate multiple same-day pickups on one RPA (up to a full load)

• Freezable and non-freezable products require separate trailers and separate RPAs

• Multiple LTL shipments within a week can be grouped on one RPA if destined for the same DC and PO due dates fall within a 3-day interval

CTC returns an RPA Response 60 to 72 hours before the pick-up date, including the shipment number and assigned DC. If you cannot accommodate the scheduled date, email them the same day you receive the response.

ASN (Advance Ship Notice) Requirements

The ASN must be submitted as soon as the trailer is loaded and departs your facility. For vendors within a 4-hour drive of the destination DC, CTC recommends sending the ASN the day before pick-up to ensure it arrives before the shipment. Automating ASN generation through your EDI provider reduces the risk of late submissions and the fines that come with them.

Each ASN covers one trailer, one ship-to location, one vendor number, one shipping channel (cross dock or storage), and one CTC system (AOM or Legacy). POs from different CTC systems cannot be combined on a single ASN.

Pallet Specifications

All palletized merchandise must use approved 40" x 48" pallets from CHEP or PECO. You must have an account with an approved pallet provider. Key specifications by DC:

Products must fit within the pallet footprint with no overhang. Multi-SKU pallets must be built with one SKU per tier, heaviest on the bottom.

Stretch Wrap Standards

All palletized products must be stretch-wrapped using transparent Linear Low-Density Polyethylene (LLDPE) or Polyethylene (PE). PVC is not permitted. Specifications: 2 to 3 inches over pallet at bottom covering all four corners with 2 full rotations, 3 full rotations at top, and 50% overlap throughout.

Conveyable vs. Non-Conveyable Product

Products weighing 50 lbs or less with maximum dimensions of 36" x 24" x 24" qualify as conveyable and must not use plastic or metal strapping. Non-conveyable products (heavier or larger) require polyester, polypropylene, or nylon strapping secured with steel metal clips for heavy items.

Online Assortment Program (eCommerce)

The Online Assortment Program allows vendors to sell products exclusively on canadiantire.ca without placing inventory in CTC distribution centers. Products ship direct from the vendor to stores for customer pick-up.

How It Works

Online Assortment products only appear on the website when the vendor has confirmed inventory via EDI 846 (sent at least twice daily). When inventory is unavailable, the product can only be found by searching the specific SKU number and cannot be added to cart.

The program serves as an incubator for new SKUs and brands. Products that perform well online may be moved to in-store assortment after a minimum of 16 weeks..

Quoting and Cost Requirements

• All quotes go through Vendor Gateway, same as in-store products

• A new FOB number is required specifically for Online Assortment, even for existing CTC vendors

• All products fall under product class *74

• Defective Recovery Rate (DRR) must be set at 5%

• Vendor Support Funds should only include a Marketing Growth Fund of 1%

• Billing Base must be Gross, not Net

• Minimum Order Quantity must be 1 for all Online Assortment products

Shipping Requirements for Online Assortment

All shipping is direct from vendor to store. Vendors must be able to ship to every Canadian Tire store location in Canada.

• Canadian FOB vendors quote Collect (CTC arranges and pays freight)

• US FOB vendors quote Prepaid (vendor arranges and pays freight)

• Vendor lead time is 2 business days for pick, pack, ASN, and get product on a courier

• One cost and one FOB per product (no regionalized costing)

Reverse Flow and Returns

All customer returns, defective products, and cancellations are handled through Percentage Return to Vendor (%RTV) or Dispose at Store, both at vendor expense.

• Dispose at Store: Vendor pays the recoverable cost (purchase price plus freight and duty)

• %RTV: Recoverable cost plus 10% plus approximately $1.21 per cube for transport from the return center

Products exceeding maximum returns and defective rates will be removed from the website.

Product Content Requirements

Online Assortment vendors must provide:

• Product images on white background (minimum 300 dpi) plus lifestyle shots

• 360-degree product views (18 to 36 image sequence, 24 preferred)

• Written product features and benefits in English and French (up to 15)

• Product specifications for the comparison tool

• Videos (English and French; CTC offers dubbing services)

• Product manuals and installation guides in PDF (English and French)

• Brand logo image

• Enrollment in BazaarVoice for ratings and reviews

Invoicing and Payment Terms

Canadian Tire uses a 3-way invoice matching system that compares the product number, PO cost, and receipt quantity against the vendor invoice. Discrepancies prevent timely payment and can take up to 8 weeks to resolve manually.

Standard Payment Terms

• Domestic and Offshore Vendor FOB: 2% discount if paid within 15 days, net due in 90 days

• Automotive Hard Parts Vendor FOB: 2% discount if paid within 90 days, net due in 120 days

Payment is made via EFT/ACH only. CTC considers payment terms met on the next available pay cycle after the discount due date. The payment discount is calculated on the full invoice amount including tax.

Invoice Requirements

All invoices must be submitted electronically via SPS Commerce, VMS, or vendor EDI. If your EDI 810 setup needs to account for tariff-related line items, the EDI 810 tariff implementation guide walks through the process. Paper invoices are accepted only in special circumstances and carry a $50 CAD manual processing fee. Each invoice must contain: valid PO number, Canadian Tire product numbers matching the PO, vendor legal name and address, currency, terms, GST/HST/QST numbers where applicable, and invoice numbers with minimum 5 characters and no spaces or dashes.

For DC invoices, one PO per invoice. For Direct Ship and Cross Dock, one invoice per Canadian Tire Associate Store.

Debit Balances

If your account enters a debit balance (vendor owes CTC), no payments are released until the balance clears. If not cleared within 45 days, CTC requires a refund by cheque or wire. Continued debit balances may trigger collection proceedings including third-party agencies and legal action.

Chargebacks, Fines, and Compliance Penalties

Canadian Tire tracks vendor compliance through three primary metrics: RPA timeliness, ASN accuracy and timeliness, and Receipt Fill Rate. The minimum target for RPA and ASN compliance is 100%. The minimum Receipt Fill Rate is 97%. Chargebacks and compliance penalties are among the most common distribution challenges brands face when scaling into retail, and CTC enforces them consistently.

Fine Schedule

Vendors are fined for each late event. If the 13-week rolling service level drops below 90%, additional fines apply. CTC makes the final decision on whether to assess, mitigate, or waive each chargeback.

Disputing Chargebacks

After receiving a fine notice, you have 3 months to submit a dispute. The dispute must include all proof documentation and a detailed explanation. Submit via email to the supplier performance team.

Supply Chain Discovered Damage (SCDD)

SCDD covers damage occurring between when CTC takes possession and when product ships from the DC to stores. CTC calculates actual items damaged multiplied by the current recoverable cost and collects quarterly via debit notes.

Vendors can qualify for SCDD exemption by getting packaging tested and certified at an accredited facility. If previously certified packaging later deteriorates below compliance standards, CTC issues back-dated debits plus a 10% fine.

Defective Product Recovery Programs

Canadian Tire runs three defect cost programs. The program assigned to your products determines how defective merchandise is handled and how costs are calculated.

Dispose at Store (DAS)

Defective merchandise is disposed of by stores and not returned to the vendor. CTC collects a purchase deduction using the pre-negotiated Defective Recovery Rate (DRR) applied against units purchased at recoverable cost. Monthly, actual defect costs are compared to collected funds, and any shortfall is debited against the vendor account.

Percentage Return to Vendor (%RTV)

Defective merchandise is returned to the vendor. The vendor must issue permanent Return Authorization Numbers to CTC. Recoverable cost includes the purchase price, freight, duty, and a 10% handling fee. The same DRR collection and monthly shortfall calculation applies.

Return to Vendor (RTV)

Similar to %RTV but billed as merchandise ships from the return center. Includes a 10% handling fee. This program is being phased out and is not available to all vendors.

All three programs require vendors to set a DRR that aligns with historical defective rates. If sustained shortfalls occur, CTC will require a DRR revision.

Sustainability and Ethical Sourcing

Canadian Tire requires vendors to comply with product environmental stewardship standards and the Supplier Code of Business Conduct (SCBC). CTC reserves the right to audit vendor and manufacturing facilities, and vendors bear the full cost of initial and any re-audits.

Packaging Sustainability Priorities

CTC categorizes packaging materials into three tiers:

• Eliminate: PVC, heavy metals, polystyrene, plastics containing Bisphenol A

• Reduce: All plastic films, plastic laminates, aseptic packaging, coated paperboard

• Preferred: Corrugated, paperboard, paper, molded pulp fibre, EPE, PET, HDPE, LDPE, PP, metal

Vendors are expected to design packaging that minimizes environmental impact while maintaining product protection. Right-sizing packaging to reduce unnecessary volume is a priority, as freight costs 15 times more than packaging materials.

Source Tagging

CTC uses Radio Frequency (RF) anti-theft tags. If your product requires source tagging, you are notified during the RFQ process. You work directly with approved tag vendors (Checkpoint Systems or Synq Access + Security Technology) to determine placement and integration. Do not delay shipments for source tagging. Ship on time and notify the Source Tagging Team if a shipment goes out without tags.

Key Systems and Portals

Most of these systems connect to your internal operations through EDI. If you run NetSuite, managed EDI for NetSuite can handle the CTC document types without custom development. 

Disclaimer

This guide is provided for informational purposes only and is based on the Canadian Tire Vendor Guide (2021) and the Online Assortment New Vendor Overview (2025). Canadian Tire Corporation may update its vendor requirements, policies, compliance standards, and fee structures at any time. Always refer to the latest official documentation available through the Canadian Tire Vendor Gateway and the CTC corporate website for the most current information. Contact your Category Business Manager (CBM) or Category Business Analyst (CBA) with questions specific to your vendor relationship.