Calgary Co-op News

Calgary Co-op Announces 2013 Director Election Results

2013-03-18T21:07:12+00:00

March 18, 2013, Calgary, Alberta – The 56th Annual General Meeting of Calgary Co-operative Association Limited was held March 13, 2013, where the results of the election for its board of directors were announced. The successful candidates were Myra D’Souza Kormann, board member since 2009; Rick Smith, former board member, and Elaine Smith, a new member of the board. Each of the candidates elected will serve a three year term on the Calgary Co-op Board of Directors.

The board of directors also appointed its board officers for 2013-2014. Terry Geib was appointed Board Chair, Laura Sullivan was appointed Vice Chair and Peggy LeSueur was re-appointed Board Secretary. Also serving on the board of directors are Johanna Bates, Stuart Cantrill, Myra D’Souza Kormann, Elaine Smith, Rick Smith and Lisa Wise.

“The results of this year’s director election provide the Board with a unique blend of experience and innovation,” says Terry Geib, Board Chair. “We look forward to the contributions of our new and existing board members in the upcoming year.”

Calgary Co-op board members, Roy Goodall and Randy Kott were not re-elected this term. “Roy and Randy were key members of the Board during their terms,” says Geib. “Their dedication and experience will be missed.”

Calgary Co-op Member-Owners Share 34 Million in Member Refunds

2013-03-14T15:43:35+00:00

March 13, 2013, Calgary, Alberta –Financial results for Calgary Co-operative Association Limited (Calgary Co-op) for its financial year ending November 3, 2012, show an increase in sales of 6.1%. Earning $1.164 billion last year compared to $1.097 billion in 2011. Assets were 457 million compared to 441.4 million in 2011. Earnings before income tax and patronage returns to member-owners were $ 54.8 million compared to 59.2 million in 2012.

“March 13, 2013, Calgary, Alberta –Financial results for Calgary Co-operative Association Limited (Calgary Co-op) for its financial year ending November 3, 2012, show an increase in sales of 6.1%. Earning $1.164 billion last year compared to $1.097 billion in 2011. Assets were 457 million compared to 441.4 million in 2011. Earnings before income tax and patronage returns to member-owners were $ 54.8 million compared to 59.2 million in 2012.

Throughout the years, Calgary Co-op has been committed to our community and worked hard to provide greater everyday pricing and value for our member-owners.” says Deane Collinson, CEO. “If we have learned anything from the past 55 years as one of the most successful co-operatives in North America, it’s that Calgary Co-op must stay true to our heritage. The longevity of our organization is directly related to the loyalty and support of our member-owners.”

Calgary Co-op celebrated several achievements last year including, a new food centre, gas bar and wine, spirits and beer store in High River, a new wine, spirits and beer tasting centre in Edmonton plus two new gas bars in Calgary. The continued focus is to support local and Canadian growers and the expansion of organic and exclusive offerings in the fresh departments. In 2012, Calgary Co-op’s commitment to community investment resulted in over $4 million in donations to local not-for-profit and charitable organizations.

About Calgary Co-op
Owned by our members, Calgary Co-op is one of the largest retail co-operatives in North America. With over 440,000 members, 3500 employees, assets of $4567 million and annual sales over $1 billion, Calgary Co-op is committed to lead in food; petroleum; home health care; pharmacy; wine, spirits, beer and travel. Investing over $4 million into the local community each year, Calgary Co-op supports numerous not-for-profit and charitable organizations through our Co-op Community Foundation.

For more information, please contact:

Cindy Drummond, Manager Communications
Calgary Co-operative Association Limited
Telephone: 403-219-6025, ext. 6137

Localize and Calgary Co-op Announce Partnership

2013-02-19T16:01:13+00:00

Calgary Co-op, one of North America's largest retail co-operatives, is partnering with Localize Services Ltd. to deliver a major local and regional food marketing campaign in its 24 food centres.

"Localize is an initiative that we started last year in Edmonton. We provide food customers with easy access to information about what's most local and regional in every department of the grocery store," says co-founder Lita McDonald.

Localize will be providing Calgary Co-op with shelf labels that identify local and regional foods, and assign food items with a score between zero and 10, with 10 being considered the most local. Localize's shelf labels are easy to identify, and each have a quick-response (QR) code that allow customers to find out more about the product with their smart phones.

Meghan Dear and Lita McDonald founded the project in 2011 because of a clear lack of information regarding local products in grocery stores. “I really felt there was a need to demystify local food and create some opportunities for our regional food businesses in mainstream grocery stores,” said Dear. “Small food businesses need a launch pad for growth and to connect with a greater number of consumers. That's why partnering with Calgary Co-op is an outstanding opportunity for us to help them to support producers and to showcase their selection of food products.”

“Calgary Co-op is excited to be a part of the Localize Project,” says Jeff Ambrose, vice president, operations and merchandising. “We are always looking for innovative ways to share information with our customers about the number of local, regional and Canadian businesses we support. You don’t get more local than Calgary Co-op and Localize will help us share our stories in a truly innovative way.”

About Localize
Localize's mission is to bring visibility to local and regional food businesses in grocery stores. Founded in 2011, Localize is an Edmonton-based business that is building a platform to meet a growing consumer desire to support local business and to have access to credible information about where their food has come from. The service is CFIA approved and consistent with CFIA's definition for local food.

About Calgary Co-op
Owned by our members, Calgary Co-op is one of the largest retail co-operatives in North America. With over 440,000 members, 3300 employees, assets of $441 million and annual sales over $1 billion, Calgary Co-op is committed to lead in food; petroleum; home health care; pharmacy; wine, spirits, beer and travel. Investing over 3.5 million into the Calgary community each year, Calgary Co-op supports numerous not-for-profit and charitable organizations where we live and work.

Contact:

Cindy Drummond
Manager, Communications
Calgary Co-operative Association
403-219-6025, ext. 6137

Meghan Dear
Co-Founder, Localize Your Food
780-720-1430
meghan@localizeyourfood.com

Calgary Co-op Rises to the Top with New Bakery Director

2013-02-04T20:18:11+00:00

Calgary Co-op, one of the largest retail co-operatives in North America, announces the appointment of Valerie Joslin, Bakery Operations Director effective January 9, 2013.

“Valerie brings over 30 years of experience in the bakery industry throughout Western Canada,” says Jeff Ambrose, vice president, operations and merchandising. “Her proven track record in operations, sales, merchandising and strong knowledge of the food industry confirms Valerie will be a valuable asset to not only our bakery division, but Calgary Co-op as a whole.”

“The retail landscape in Calgary is changing. Calgary Co-op has a fresh insight on what our customers want. We provide an exceptional shopping experience, excellent customer service and offer the highest quality products at competitive prices,” says Joslin. “We are launching innovative bakery programs, offering fresh new products and continuing to develop and build loyal relationships with our members and the community. It’s an exciting time at Calgary Co-op and I am honoured to be a part of it.”

About Calgary Co-op
Owned by our members, Calgary Co-op is one of the largest retail co-operatives in North America. With over 440,000 members, 3500 employees, assets of $441 million and annual sales over $1 billion, Calgary Co-op is committed to lead in food; petroleum; home health care; pharmacy; wine, spirits, beer and travel. Investing over 3.5 million into the Calgary community each year, Calgary Co-op supports numerous not-for-profit and charitable organizations where we live and work.

Now Serving In High River

2012-08-07T16:34:58+00:00

Calgary Co-operative Association (Co-op) has just opened its newest food centre in the town of High River, Alberta. This follows the opening of their gas bar, touch less car wash and convenience store which took place in June.

A formal ribbon cutting ceremony took place in front of the store on Wednesday, August 1, 2012 and then was followed a few days later by a grand opening celebration complete with a pancake breakfast, live music from the band, Scarecrow, and other family entertainment.

“We are really excited to be here,” says Deane Collinson, chief executive officer for Calgary Co-op. “All of the residents have been really supportive of our decision to come to High River. We look forward to providing our High River member-owners with great service and high quality products at competitive prices.”

“This is a fantastic opportunity for me to live and work in High River,” says Chris Goode, centre manager. “As a resident for 34 years, I now have the chance to work with my neighbors and contribute to my community.”

High River residents can expect Co-op Wines Spirits Beer to open in September on the same property as the food centre and gas bar.

About Calgary Co-op
Owned by our members, Calgary Co-op is one of the largest retail co-operatives in North America. With over 440,000 members, 3300 employees, assets of $441 million and annual sales over $1 billion, Calgary Co-op is committed to lead in food, petroleum, home health care, pharmacy, wines & spirits and travel. Investing over 3.5 million into the Calgary community each year, Calgary Co-op supports numerous not-for-profit and charitable organizations where we live and work.

For more information contact:
Cindy Drummond, Manager, Communications
Calgary Co-operative Association
403.219.6025 ext. 6137

Reeling in Eco-Friendly Catch

2012-05-03T22:12:39+00:00

Calgary Co-op has gone eco-fishing for our member-owners and reeled in ocean-friendly seafood options with a new labeling system, to help make shopping for environmentally responsible fresh and frozen seafood products easier.

All 23 food centres in Calgary, Airdrie, Strathmore, and soon High River, will take part in the “Reel in the Solution!” sustainable seafood program developed by Federated Co-operatives Limited and SeaChoice, a consortium of five nationally respected Canadian conservation organizations that undertake scientific assessment of the environmental sustainability of wild fisheries and aquaculture products.

After an extensive review by SeaChoice, customers are encouraged to consider the following options: Arctic Char, Sablefish, Steelhead Trout, Rainbow Trout, Dungeness Crab and Mussels which are easily identified with in-store signage and labeling. A green SeaChoice label indicates a “Best Choice” item that is well managed, abundant, and caught or farmed in environmentally sustainable ways. A yellow label identifies a “Some Concerns” item and a red label signifies an item to “Avoid.”

“Calgary Co-op and their customers can take pride knowing their efforts are helping to ensure the long term viability of our oceans and the products harvested from them,” says SeaChoice’s Kelly Roebuck. “Together, we are making a positive difference for the health of our oceans.”

Trevor Moore, operations director, Calgary Co-op is thankful for the leadership provided by SeaChoice and its effort to educate consumers and help them choose responsible seafood selections. “We are doing what we can to make it easy for our member-owners to source sustainable options and keep our oceans healthy.”

About Calgary Co-op

Calgary Co-op is one of the largest retail co-operatives in North America. With over 440,000 members, 3400 employees, assets of $441 million and annual sales over $1 billion, Calgary Co-op, Calgary’s local fresh market is committed to lead in food, petroleum, home health care, pharmacy and travel. Investing over 3.5 million into the Calgary community, Calgary Co-op supports numerous not-for-profit and charitable organizations within the city.

About SeaChoice

Formed in 2006, SeaChoice is a national program that provides science-based sustainability assessments of seafood and helps Canadian businesses and consumers make sustainable seafood choices. SeaChoice is a joint initiative of Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, David Suzuki Foundation, Ecology Action Centre, Living Oceans Society and Sierra Club BC. Working in collaboration with the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s acclaimed Seafood Watch program, SeaChoice undertakes science-based seafood assessments, provides informative resources for consumers, and supports businesses through collaborative partnerships.

Calgary Co-op and First Calgary Financial announce legacy donation to The Mustard Seed

2012-04-18T21:12:48+00:00

In a unique partnership celebrating 2012 being the United Nations-declared International Year of the Cooperatives, Calgary Co-op and First Calgary Financial will make a joint donation in cash and in-kind gifts in the form of health, nutrition and financial literacy education over the next five years to The Mustard Seed.

In a unique partnership celebrating 2012 being the United Nations-declared International Year of Cooperatives, Calgary Co-op and First Calgary Financial will make a joint legacy donation totalling $500,000 cash and in-kind gifts in the form of health, nutrition and financial literacy education over the next five years to The Mustard Seed.

"I feel like I'm wearing out my 'Thank You' because I'm using it so often these days," says Ron, a client of The Mustard Seed Calgary. A few weeks earlier, with help from The Mustard Seed Calgary, Ron moved into the first home he has been able to call his own in eight years.

He explains that he always enjoyed a normal, happy life, but his path took an unexpected detour when he was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease a few years ago. The diagnosis ended his career as a truck driver. Though he continued to work part-time, it wasn't enough to cover his living expenses. Paired with a seemingly endless series of unreliable roommates, Ron says he never felt safe at home and was constantly on the move.

He came to The Mustard Seed Calgary in need of a second chance. The Mustard Seed's Housing team worked with Ron to find an affordable rental unit. They also helped him move in and supplied furniture and other household necessities.

Housing programs provide individuals like Ron with much-needed second chances. With ongoing support and mentorship through The Mustard Seed Calgary, he has become a real-life success.

"The generosity of these two cooperatives will help thousands of Calgarians experiencing homelessness and poverty. We are thrilled to partner with Calgary Co-op and First Calgary Financial to support change in the lives of those we serve," said Aart Schuurman Hess, Interim CEO & CAO of The Mustard Seed Calgary. "The funds will not only be used to meet basic needs, but also to support vulnerable men and women on their journey to independence and fulfillment."

"Calgary Co-op is privileged to partner with First Calgary Financial and support the vital role The Mustard Seed Calgary plays in our city. We truly believe our joint contribution honours the cooperative community spirit, will make a difference in the lives of many Calgarians and will support Calgary's vision to end homeless," says Deane Collinson, CEO of Calgary Co-operative Association.

Paul Kelly, President and CEO of First Calgary Financial says, "Lives are transformed every day at The Mustard Seed Calgary and we are so pleased to be able to support their work in a meaningful way. Homelessness and poverty are incredibly complex issues, but together with Calgary Co-op we want to create real and lasting social change by taking an innovative approach to supporting an important non-profit organization doing life-changing work for Calgarians."

About The Mustard Seed

The Mustard Seed is a Christian non-profit organization that has been caring for the needs of the less fortunate since 1984. Through its three ministry centres across Alberta, The Mustard Seed delivers basic services, housing and employment programs to those in need and partners with the community to address the root causes of poverty. For more information, visit theseed.ca.

About Calgary Co-op

About First Calgary Financial

Recognized as one of the Most Admired Corporate Cultures in Western Canada, First Calgary Financial is Calgary’s only locally-owned, full-service financial institution and the ninth largest credit union in Canada, with assets under administration exceeding $2.5 billion. First Calgary Financial’s 500 employees are proud to be leading, learning and living in the communities they serve. For more information, visit firstcalgary.com.

Calgary Co-op Gets Cooking With New Executive Chef

2012-04-02T21:51:49+00:00

Calgary Co-op announces the appointment of John Humphreys to the newly created position of Executive Chef.

Calgary Co-op, one of the largest retail co-operatives in North America, announces the appointment of John Humphreys to the newly created position of Executive Chef. Humphreys will be responsible for the development and execution of a new Home Meal Replacement (HMR) program or simply “grab and go” prepared foods for 23 food centres located in Calgary, Airdrie and Strathmore and soon, High River.

Humphreys is an award-winning Red Seal chef whose background includes over 25 years of culinary experience in Canada and abroad. His awards include the Fred Balmer Memorial Scholarship, the Alberta Minister of Advanced Education’s Award for Excellence and U.S. National Restaurant Association’s Best Menu Award.

“John brings a great combination of culinary expertise and approachable leadership style to Calgary Co-op,” says Jeff Ambrose, vice president, operations and merchandising. “His knowledge of the food restaurant industry, passion and creativity makes Humphreys an ideal fit for our new HMR strategy. The retail landscape in Calgary is changing and Calgary Co-op has a fresh insight on what our customers want. We give our customers an exceptional shopping experience, excellent customer service and offer high quality products at a competitive price,” says Ambrose. “We are launching new programs and we are committed to providing greater food to our member-owners.”

Calgary Co-op Announces Results of Director Election 2012

2012-03-12T17:08:05+00:00

The 55th Annual General Meeting of the Calgary Co-operative Association Limited (Co-op)was held on March 7, 2012, where the results of the election for its board of directors was announced.

Board member, Lisa Wise, director since 2006, and board member Johanna Bates, first elected in 1997 were re-elected to the board of directors, each for a three year term. Laura Sullivan, a past board member rejoined the board, also for a three year term.

Sullivan, who held a director position with Calgary Co-op from 2007-2010, joined other members of the board including: Stuart Cantrill, board chair, Terry Geib, Roy Goodall, vice chair, Myra D'Souza Kormann, Randy Kott and Peggy Le Sueur, board secretary.

Calgary Co-op board member, Rick Smith was not re-elected this term. Smith first joined the board from 1986-1999 and came back in 2009 for this most recent three term.

Calgary Co-op Member-Owners Share $30 Million

2012-03-08T14:54:19+00:00

Financial results for Calgary Co-operative Association Limited (Calgary Co-op) for its financial year ending October 29, 2011, show an increase in sales to $1.097 billion compared to $1.023 billion in 2010. Assets were 441.4 million compared to 413.4 million in 2010. Earnings before income tax and patronage returns to member-owners were $59.2 million compared to 37.9 million in 2010.

"Throughout the years, Calgary Co-op has been committed to our community and worked hard to provide the caring service and great quality products that our member-owners have come to expect. Our standards are high and we have every intention to provide greater everyday pricing and value for our memberowners." says Deane Collinson, CEO. "If we have learned anything from the past 55 years as one of the most successful co-operatives in North America, it's that Calgary Co-op must stay true to our heritage. The longevity of our organization is directly related to the loyalty and support of our member-owners."

Calgary Co-op celebrated several achievements last year including, a ground breaking ceremony to begin construction for a new food centre, gas bar and wines and spirits store in High River, a continued focus to support local and Canadian growers and the expansion of organic and exclusive offerings in the fresh departments. In 2011, Calgary Co-op's commitment to community investment resulted in over $3 million in donations to local not-for-profit and charitable organizations.