New owners at the helm of the UPS Store Canadian Network
MBEC Communications Inc. (MBEC), the privately held Canadian company that owns The UPS Store and Mail Boxes Etc. master license in Canada, announced new owners of the company. David Druker, who has been a centre owner and area franchisee in Quebec since 2005, and Larry Plotnick, a seasoned business executive, have acquired the company. This comes as Ralph Askar announces his move into semi-retirement and away from his current role as president and chief executive officer and major shareholder of The UPS Store and Mail Boxes Etc. franchise network in Canada.
“Over the past 10 years,” notes Plotnick, “The UPS Store and Mail Boxes Etc. network has doubled its footprint in Canada, growing to over 330 franchises and truly becoming the leader of our industry. Over the coming decade we are committed to continuing our growth. We believe very strongly in the company and the role The UPS Store brand plays within the small-business market.”
The UPS Store and Mail Boxes Etc. is Canada’s largest franchise network of business service centres in addition to being recognized as the country’s largest chain of franchised print and document centres. The network has been ranked in Entrepreneur magazine’s “Franchise 500” as the number one franchise opportunity in the business services category for 18 consecutive years.
“Our focus and our business strategy will not change,” states Druker, “We will continue to cater to the small and medium-size business sector, adapting our products and services to their changing needs, while at the same time looking at traditional and non-traditional venues such as airports, university campuses and hotels for our expansion. We are also convinced that using our centres as mini-offices for corporate sales reps, and as distribution hubs for many e-commerce and catalogue companies, has strong appeal for larger, national clients.”
Having led the Quebec expansion over the past three years and having been involved in franchising for almost two decades, Druker has an in-depth knowledge of The UPS Store and Mail Boxes Etc. operations coupled with proven leadership skills. Under his direction, the network has grown from seven to 23 locations in the province.
“Our international expansion began in Canada in 1988, and the concept has succeeded because we have adapted our services to the evolving needs of our clients both in the U.S. and abroad,” explained Stuart Mathis, president of Mail Boxes Etc., Inc. (MBE), franchisor of The UPS Store and Mail Boxes Etc. network in the U.S. and master franchisor internationally. “We are thankful to Ralph Askar for the strong foundation he has helped to build. As we enter a new chapter in Canada, we are confident that Larry and David have the skills, the drive and the vision to take our network in Canada to the next level.”
