Company Performance Metrics
The company began in 1931 as A. Cohen and Son (in 1934 it was renamed Confection Distributors and Agencies) when company co-founder Albert D. Cohen went into business with his father Alexander selling confectionery items on the roads of Western Canada. Albert’s five brothers eventually joined the business and spread out across Canada and each one
contributed to the success of the company.
From that point on the company later known as General Distributors Ltd. grew and its holdings went on to include a 51% stake in Sony of Canada, the Canadian rights to Papermate Pens and American Tourister luggage, retail chains, ownership positions in several oil, gas and pipeline companies as well as a national real estate portfolio. From 1995 to 2004 a number of sales of its retailing, electronics and oil and gas businesses occurred and in 2005 Gendis Inc. (as the company was renamed in 1983) streamlined to its current structure.
Gendis’ significant assets include an investment in a publicly traded company, Veresen Inc., an investment in a private company, Osum Oilsands Corp. and investments in real estate for lease. Each of these assets represent approximately 1/3rd of Gendis’ asset base.
