diff --git a/cmd/dist/fetch.go b/cmd/dist/fetch.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a586cf2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmd/dist/fetch.go
@@ -0,0 +1,348 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"context"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"fmt"
+	"io/ioutil"
+	"os"
+	"sync"
+	"text/tabwriter"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/Sirupsen/logrus"
+	contentapi "github.com/docker/containerd/api/services/content"
+	"github.com/docker/containerd/content"
+	"github.com/docker/containerd/log"
+	"github.com/docker/containerd/progress"
+	"github.com/docker/containerd/remotes"
+	contentservice "github.com/docker/containerd/services/content"
+	ocispec "github.com/opencontainers/image-spec/specs-go/v1"
+	"github.com/urfave/cli"
+	"golang.org/x/sync/errgroup"
+)
+
+var fetchCommand = cli.Command{
+	Name:      "fetch",
+	Usage:     "fetch all content for an image into containerd",
+	ArgsUsage: "[flags] <remote> <object>",
+	Description: `Fetch an image into containerd.
+	
+This command ensures that containerd has all the necessary resources to build
+an image's rootfs and convert the configuration to a runtime format supported
+by containerd.
+
+This command uses the same syntax, of remote and object, as 'dist
+fetch-object'. We may want to make this nicer, but agnostism is preferred for
+the moment.
+
+Right now, the responsibility of the daemon and the cli aren't quite clear. Do
+not use this implementation as a guide. The end goal should be having metadata,
+content and snapshots ready for a direct use via the 'ctr run'.
+
+Most of this is experimental and there are few leaps to make this work.`,
+	Flags: []cli.Flag{},
+	Action: func(clicontext *cli.Context) error {
+		var (
+			ctx     = background
+			locator = clicontext.Args().First()
+			object  = clicontext.Args().Get(1)
+		)
+
+		conn, err := connectGRPC(clicontext)
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+
+		resolver, err := getResolver(ctx)
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+
+		fetcher, err := resolver.Resolve(ctx, locator)
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+
+		ingester := contentservice.NewIngesterFromClient(contentapi.NewContentClient(conn))
+		cs, err := resolveContentStore(clicontext)
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+
+		eg, ctx := errgroup.WithContext(ctx)
+
+		ctx = withJobsContext(ctx)
+
+		eg.Go(func() error {
+			return fetchManifest(ctx, ingester, fetcher, object)
+		})
+
+		errs := make(chan error)
+		go func() {
+			defer close(errs)
+			errs <- eg.Wait()
+		}()
+
+		ticker := time.NewTicker(100 * time.Millisecond)
+		fw := progress.NewWriter(os.Stdout)
+		start := time.Now()
+		defer ticker.Stop()
+		var done bool
+
+		for {
+			select {
+			case <-ticker.C:
+				fw.Flush()
+
+				tw := tabwriter.NewWriter(fw, 1, 8, 1, '\t', 0)
+				// fmt.Fprintln(tw, "REF\tSIZE\tAGE")
+				var total int64
+
+				js := getJobs(ctx)
+				type statusInfo struct {
+					Ref       string
+					Status    string
+					Offset    int64
+					Total     int64
+					StartedAt time.Time
+					UpdatedAt time.Time
+				}
+				statuses := map[string]statusInfo{}
+
+				activeSeen := map[string]struct{}{}
+				if !done {
+					active, err := cs.Active()
+					if err != nil {
+						log.G(ctx).WithError(err).Error("active check failed")
+						continue
+					}
+					// update status of active entries!
+					for _, active := range active {
+						statuses[active.Ref] = statusInfo{
+							Ref:       active.Ref,
+							Status:    "downloading",
+							Offset:    active.Offset,
+							Total:     active.Total,
+							StartedAt: active.StartedAt,
+							UpdatedAt: active.UpdatedAt,
+						}
+						activeSeen[active.Ref] = struct{}{}
+					}
+				}
+
+				// now, update the items in jobs that are not in active
+				for _, j := range js {
+					if _, ok := activeSeen[j]; ok {
+						continue
+					}
+
+					statuses[j] = statusInfo{
+						Ref:    j,
+						Status: "done", // for now!
+					}
+				}
+
+				for _, j := range js {
+					status := statuses[j]
+
+					total += status.Offset
+					switch status.Status {
+					case "downloading":
+						bar := progress.Bar(float64(status.Offset) / float64(status.Total))
+						fmt.Fprintf(tw, "%s:\t%s\t%40r\t%8.8s/%s\n",
+							status.Ref,
+							status.Status,
+							bar,
+							progress.Bytes(status.Offset), progress.Bytes(status.Total))
+					case "done":
+						bar := progress.Bar(1.0)
+						fmt.Fprintf(tw, "%s:\t%s\t%40r\n",
+							status.Ref,
+							status.Status,
+							bar)
+					}
+				}
+
+				fmt.Fprintf(tw, "elapsed: %-4.1fs\ttotal: %7.6v\t(%v)\n",
+					time.Since(start).Seconds(),
+					// TODO(stevvooe): These calculations are actually way off.
+					// Need to account for previously downloaded data. These
+					// will basically be right for a download the first time
+					// but will be skewed if restarting, as it includes the
+					// data into the start time before.
+					progress.Bytes(total),
+					progress.NewBytesPerSecond(total, time.Since(start)))
+				tw.Flush()
+
+				if done {
+					fw.Flush()
+					return nil
+				}
+			case err := <-errs:
+				if err != nil {
+					return err
+				}
+				done = true
+			case <-ctx.Done():
+				done = true // allow ui to update once more
+			}
+		}
+
+		return nil
+	},
+}
+
+// jobs provides a way of identifying the download keys for a particular task
+// encountering during the pull walk.
+//
+// This is very minimal and will probably be replaced with something more
+// featured.
+type jobs struct {
+	added map[string]struct{}
+	refs  []string
+	mu    sync.Mutex
+}
+
+// jobsKeys let's us store the jobs instance in the context.
+//
+// This is a very cute way to do things but not ideal.
+type jobsKey struct{}
+
+func getJobs(ctx context.Context) []string {
+	return ctx.Value(jobsKey{}).(*jobs).jobs()
+}
+
+func addJob(ctx context.Context, job string) {
+	ctx.Value(jobsKey{}).(*jobs).add(job)
+}
+
+func withJobsContext(ctx context.Context) context.Context {
+	jobs := newJobs()
+	return context.WithValue(ctx, jobsKey{}, jobs)
+}
+
+func newJobs() *jobs {
+	return &jobs{added: make(map[string]struct{})}
+}
+
+func (j *jobs) add(ref string) {
+	j.mu.Lock()
+	defer j.mu.Unlock()
+
+	if _, ok := j.added[ref]; ok {
+		return
+	}
+	j.refs = append(j.refs, ref)
+	j.added[ref] = struct{}{}
+}
+
+func (j *jobs) jobs() []string {
+	j.mu.Lock()
+	defer j.mu.Unlock()
+
+	var jobs []string
+	for _, j := range j.refs {
+		jobs = append(jobs, j)
+	}
+
+	return jobs
+}
+
+func fetchManifest(ctx context.Context, ingester content.Ingester, fetcher remotes.Fetcher, object string, hints ...string) error {
+	const manifestMediaType = "application/vnd.docker.distribution.manifest.v2+json"
+	hints = append(hints, "mediatype:"+manifestMediaType)
+
+	ref := "manifest-" + object
+	addJob(ctx, ref)
+
+	rc, err := fetcher.Fetch(ctx, object, hints...)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	defer rc.Close()
+
+	// it would be better to read the content back from the content store in this case.
+	p, err := ioutil.ReadAll(rc)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	if err := content.WriteBlob(ctx, ingester, ref, bytes.NewReader(p), 0, ""); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	// TODO(stevvooe): This assumption that we get a manifest is unfortunate.
+	// Need to provide way to resolve what the type of the target is.
+	var manifest ocispec.Manifest
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(p, &manifest); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	var descs []ocispec.Descriptor
+
+	descs = append(descs, manifest.Config)
+	for _, desc := range manifest.Layers {
+		descs = append(descs, desc)
+	}
+
+	return dispatch(ctx, ingester, fetcher, descs...)
+}
+
+func fetch(ctx context.Context, ingester content.Ingester, fetcher remotes.Fetcher, desc ocispec.Descriptor) error {
+	var (
+		hints  []string
+		object = desc.Digest.String()
+	)
+	if desc.MediaType != "" {
+		hints = append(hints, "mediatype:"+desc.MediaType)
+	}
+
+	ref := "fetch-" + object
+	addJob(ctx, ref)
+	log.G(ctx).Debug("fetch")
+	rc, err := fetcher.Fetch(ctx, object, hints...)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.G(ctx).WithError(err).Error("fetch error")
+		return err
+	}
+	defer rc.Close()
+
+	// TODO(stevvooe): Need better remote key selection here. Should be a
+	// product of the fetcher. We may need more narrow infomation on fetcher or
+	// just pull from env/context.
+	return content.WriteBlob(ctx, ingester, ref, rc, desc.Size, desc.Digest)
+}
+
+// dispatch blocks until all content in `descs` is retrieved.
+func dispatch(ctx context.Context, ingester content.Ingester, fetcher remotes.Fetcher, descs ...ocispec.Descriptor) error {
+	eg, ctx := errgroup.WithContext(ctx)
+	for _, desc := range descs {
+		if err := func(desc ocispec.Descriptor) error {
+			ctx := log.WithLogger(ctx, log.G(ctx).WithFields(logrus.Fields{
+				"digest":    desc.Digest,
+				"mediatype": desc.MediaType,
+				"size":      desc.Size,
+			}))
+			switch desc.MediaType {
+			case MediaTypeDockerSchema2Manifest, ocispec.MediaTypeImageManifest:
+				eg.Go(func() error {
+					return fetchManifest(ctx, ingester, fetcher, desc.Digest.String(), "mediatype:"+desc.MediaType)
+				})
+			case MediaTypeDockerSchema2ManifestList, ocispec.MediaTypeImageIndex:
+				return fmt.Errorf("%v not yet supported", desc.MediaType)
+			default:
+				eg.Go(func() error {
+					return fetch(ctx, ingester, fetcher, desc)
+				})
+			}
+
+			return nil
+		}(desc); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+	}
+
+	return eg.Wait()
+}
diff --git a/cmd/dist/main.go b/cmd/dist/main.go
index 2172a37..cf96ad5 100644
--- a/cmd/dist/main.go
+++ b/cmd/dist/main.go
@@ -61,6 +61,7 @@ distribution tool
 		},
 	}
 	app.Commands = []cli.Command{
+		fetchCommand,
 		fetchObjectCommand,
 		ingestCommand,
 		activeCommand,
diff --git a/progress/bar.go b/progress/bar.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fa916ef
--- /dev/null
+++ b/progress/bar.go
@@ -0,0 +1,65 @@
+package progress
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"fmt"
+)
+
+// TODO(stevvooe): We may want to support more interesting parameterization of
+// the bar. For now, it is very simple.
+
+// Bar provides a very simple progress bar implementation.
+//
+// Use with fmt.Printf and "r" to format the progress bar. A "-" flag makes it
+// progress from right to left.
+type Bar float64
+
+var _ fmt.Formatter = Bar(1.0)
+
+func (h Bar) Format(state fmt.State, r rune) {
+	switch r {
+	case 'r':
+	default:
+		panic(fmt.Sprintf("%v: unexpected format character", float64(h)))
+	}
+
+	if h > 1.0 {
+		h = 1.0
+	}
+
+	if h < 0.0 {
+		h = 0.0
+	}
+
+	if state.Flag('-') {
+		h = 1.0 - h
+	}
+
+	width, ok := state.Width()
+	if !ok {
+		// default width of 40
+		width = 40
+	}
+
+	var pad int
+
+	extra := len([]byte(green)) + len([]byte(reset))
+
+	p := make([]byte, width+extra)
+	p[0], p[len(p)-1] = '|', '|'
+	pad += 2
+
+	positive := int(Bar(width-pad) * h)
+	negative := width - pad - positive
+
+	n := 1
+	n += copy(p[n:], []byte(green))
+	n += copy(p[n:], bytes.Repeat([]byte("+"), positive))
+	n += copy(p[n:], []byte(reset))
+
+	if negative > 0 {
+		n += copy(p[n:len(p)-1], bytes.Repeat([]byte("-"), negative))
+	}
+
+	state.Write(p)
+}
diff --git a/progress/doc.go b/progress/doc.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7f580af
--- /dev/null
+++ b/progress/doc.go
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+// Package progress assists in displaying human readable progress information.
+package progress
diff --git a/progress/escape.go b/progress/escape.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5889efe
--- /dev/null
+++ b/progress/escape.go
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+package progress
+
+const (
+	escape = "\x1b"
+	reset  = escape + "[0m"
+	red    = escape + "[31m"
+	green  = escape + "[32m"
+)
diff --git a/progress/humaans.go b/progress/humaans.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8775899
--- /dev/null
+++ b/progress/humaans.go
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+package progress
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"time"
+
+	units "github.com/docker/go-units"
+)
+
+// Bytes converts a regular int64 to human readable type.
+type Bytes int64
+
+func (b Bytes) String() string {
+	return units.CustomSize("%02.1f %s", float64(b), 1024.0, []string{"B", "KiB", "MiB", "GiB", "TiB", "PiB", "EiB", "ZiB", "YiB"})
+}
+
+type BytesPerSecond int64
+
+func NewBytesPerSecond(n int64, duration time.Duration) BytesPerSecond {
+	return BytesPerSecond(float64(n) / duration.Seconds())
+}
+
+func (bps BytesPerSecond) String() string {
+	return fmt.Sprintf("%v/s", Bytes(bps))
+}
diff --git a/progress/writer.go b/progress/writer.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a3f90b8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/progress/writer.go
@@ -0,0 +1,60 @@
+package progress
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"fmt"
+	"io"
+)
+
+// Writer buffers writes until flush, at which time the last screen is cleared
+// and the current buffer contents are written. This is useful for
+// implementing progress displays, such as those implemented in docker and
+// git.
+type Writer struct {
+	buf   bytes.Buffer
+	w     io.Writer
+	lines int
+}
+
+func NewWriter(w io.Writer) *Writer {
+	return &Writer{
+		w: w,
+	}
+}
+
+func (w *Writer) Write(p []byte) (n int, err error) {
+	return w.buf.Write(p)
+}
+
+// Flush should be called when refreshing the current display.
+func (w *Writer) Flush() error {
+	if w.buf.Len() == 0 {
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	if err := w.clear(); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	w.lines = bytes.Count(w.buf.Bytes(), []byte("\n"))
+
+	if _, err := w.w.Write(w.buf.Bytes()); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	w.buf.Reset()
+	return nil
+}
+
+// TODO(stevvooe): The following are system specific. Break these out if we
+// decide to build this package further.
+
+func (w *Writer) clear() error {
+	for i := 0; i < w.lines; i++ {
+		if _, err := fmt.Fprintf(w.w, "\x1b[0A\x1b[2K\r"); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}