Westview Co-op, which is based in Olds, is not following Calgary Co-op's lead — to source its groceries from outside the Co-op organization.
That's the word from Westview Co-op general manager Dennis Laing.
Calgary Co-op announced on Tuesday, Aug. 27 its decision to source its groceries from the Alberta-based distribution arm of Save-On-Foods instead of Saskatchewan-based Federated Co-operatives Ltd., which distributes products for co-op stores. The change goes into effect next spring, excluding the High River Food store.
Calgary Co-op indicated that it had made that decision in order to compete in a "very competitive environment under continuing challenging economic conditions in Calgary."
"Westview Co-op is not following Calgary Co-op and sourcing our groceries from Save-On-Foods instead of Federated Co-op," Laing wrote in an email to the Albertan.
"We fundamentally believe in the co-operative business model and further believe that the strength of the pack is the wolf and the strength of the wolf is the pack.
"As a retail o-op, we own a share of Federated Co-operatives Limited and as a retail co-op, we share in the profits of our federation. With that, Westview Co-op will continue to support our federation in every way that we can," he wrote.
"However, each co-op is autonomously owned by its own membership and as such, may undertake such decisions."
Laing said within the Co-op federation "there has been disappointment expressed by the decision that Calgary Co-op has made. Impacts of this decision will be felt by many, even outside of Calgary Co-op."
He further said the food business done by Calgary Co-op accounted for about 3.7 per cent of Federated Co-op’s total business in 2018.
"The latest information that we have is that Calgary Co-op still wants to be a part of our federation and continue to secure supply for the Gas Bars and Convenience Stores through FCL," he wrote.
