Co-op food stores set to open in eight communities

April 21, 2014

A familiar face will soon be welcoming you in eight communities across Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Over the next month, retail co-ops in the three provinces will be taking over ownership and operations of 12 food stores as part of an agreement reached in February between Federated Co-operatives Limited (FCL) and Sobeys Inc. An additional two food stores in Edmonton will be operated by The Grocery People (TGP), a wholly-owned subsidiary of FCL.

Wetaskiwin Co-op, established in 1917, is acquiring the Sobeys store in its community located at 4703-50th Street. It is the first retail co-op to open one of the newly-purchased stores; the Co-op store will open its doors on Wednesday, April 23.
 

“The Wetaskiwin Co-op is extremely pleased to be providing its members and customers from the City of Wetaskiwin and surrounding area to a brand new grocery shopping experience – everyone is welcome to shop at their local Co-op,” says Wetaskiwin Co-op General Manager Al Halter.

“Traditions that started decades ago remain the cornerstone of who we are today. A promise to stay local, a commitment to community and a business model that shares profits with anyone who wishes to become a member.”

Wetaskiwin Co-op serves more than 12,000 member-owners as well as many non-member customers at their Home, Agro and Feed Centre and the Falun branch. Wetaskwin Co-op returned more than $2.3 million in cash to members in 2013. In the last five years, it has returned $5 million in cash to its members.

The Co-operative Retailing System is excited to be introducing the Co-op food brand in Winnipeg, Edmonton, Fort Saskatchewan, Wetaskiwin, Leduc and Taber and expanding its presence in Regina and Saskatoon. In each of the eight communities, these new food stores will complement other businesses operated by local retail co-ops.

Ron Welke, FCL’s Associate Vice-President – Food, commends the work of FCL, retail co-op and TGP employees involved in the transition, along with the new employees who will be joining the Co-op family in the coming days and weeks.

“Each individual involved in the planning and implementation around the change in ownership of the stores is to be commended for their hard work and dedication,” says Welke. “We have developed a wonderful relationship with a dedicated and talented group of new employees who are eager to continue serving their customers in the new Co-op stores.”
The following is the complete list of store opening dates:

• April 23 – Wetaskiwin: 4703-50th Street, owned and operated by Wetaskiwin Co-op;
• April 29 – Edmonton: 5036-106th Avenue NW, owned and operated by The Grocery People;
• April 30 – Leduc: 5421-50th Street, owned and operated by Leduc Co-op
• May 1 – Taber: 4926-46th Avenue (including gas bar), owned and operated by Medicine Hat Co-op;
• May 6 – Fort Saskatchewan: 10004-99th Avenue, owned and operated by North Central Co-op;
• May 7 – Edmonton: 18370 Lessard Road, owned and operated by North Central Co-op;
• May 8 – Edmonton: 2331-66th Street NW (including gas bar), owned and operated by North Central Co-op;
• May 13 – Edmonton: 6204-90th Avenue, owned and operated by The Grocery People;
• May 14 – Saskatoon: 3310-8th Street East (including gas bar), owned and operated by Saskatoon Co-op;
• May 14 – Winnipeg: 1441 Main Street, owned and operated by Red River Co-op;
• May 15 – Winnipeg: 77 Vermillion Road, owned and operated by Red River Co-op;
• May 22 – Winnipeg: 850 Dakota Street (including gas bar), owned and operated by Red River Co-op;
• May 23 – Regina: 3801 Albert Street, owned and operated by Sherwood Co-op;
• May 23 – Winnipeg: 1120 Grant Avenue, owned and operated by Red River Co-op.

Please visit www.myco-op.ca or www.tgp.ca for more information.