THE LAST THIRTY: Our continuing Legacy

Carrying on from the last issue, we delve into the continuing history of the Co-op. Since 1990, the Co-op has remained stable in the communities it serves with vast improvements in sales and facilities. A strong vibrant economy,along with added competition saw the need for additional services. The purchase of a crop input competitor in 2003 led the co-op to expand into another line of business. The agro centre opened a new facility on Hamilton Road that still, to this day, services the needs of our members. Of course, not every location was thriving. In 2006, the Co-op closed the kiosk in Dubuc. However, a fuel presence was kept open with a keylock being installed.

Sales continued to grow, and in 2009, a decision was made to build a second convenience store/gas bar and car wash in Yorkton. Land was purchased from the city. In August of 2010, the Palliser Way Gas Bar opened to the public. This location has proven to be more than just adequate, as it surpassed the 5 year projection in sales in only 2 years.

The food store location in Kamsack was getting older; it was leased space in a mall, with limited parking and no room to expand. The Board was faced with a decision to either build a new food store, or exit the food business in Kamsack. The only competitor in town was a small family owned business looking for an exit plan themselves. It was a risky decision to build new, based on the costs of a new food store, but in the shadow of an exiting competitor, a decision not to build would leave the community without a food store. The feasibility showed small positive results, and in 2011, a decision was made to proceed with a new food store in Kamsack. In the summer of 2013, the new store opened to the public. This new location had ample parking, expanded food lines, a bakery and a deli (which the former store lacked).

The latest facility that is being upgraded currently is the Ebenezer Agro Centre. A new 12 bin volumetric blending plant is being constructed, along with completely renovated storage sheds and offices. Site preparation has been completed to give this location a much better presence from the highway. This facility is now in full production and ready for the Spring season.

Until February 2nd 2019, Yorkton Co-op operated 10 locations in 6 communities. There were food stores in Yorkton and Kamsack, 2 gas bar/C-stores and car washes in Yorkton, and a gas bar/ C-store in Kamsack. There are agro centres in Yorkton and Theodore as well as a crop input centre in Ebenezer. Yorkton Co-op also had a presence in Dubuc with a keylock and a cardlock in Rhein.

Since 2010, sales at Yorkton Co-op were more than $771 million dollars with net savings in excess of $34 million dollars. All of the Co-op facilities in Ebenezer, Theodore, Kamsack and Yorkton have either been recently built or renovated with more than $25 million dollars spent during this time. At the same time, more than $22 million dollars has been allocated back to members in equity and cash back.

February 3rd , 2019 saw the dawning of a new Co-op named Legacy Co-op. This new Co-op was the result of an amalgamation between Yorkton Co-op and Churchbridge Co-op. This amalgamation will see 6 more locations and 4 more communities added. There is a food store in Churchbridge serving the food needs of the members, a home and agro centre as well, which serves the needs in the lines of hardware, feed, agro hardware and home centre materials. Besides the fuel outlet in Churchbridge, there are cardlocks in Esterhazy and Langenburg. There is also a small keylock in MacNutt that services the needs in that area. Sales in 2020 for Legacy Co-op are projected to be over $103 million dollars with a net savings of almost $3 million dollars. Legacy Co-op currently employs approximately 230 team members.

Legacy Co-op has withstood the test of time and has become stronger because of it. Our competitors continue to grow and merge into larger entities, and it is vital that we continue to find efficiencies in our operations and offer our members a greater range of products and services in the future.

As Robert Kiyosaki, businessman and author once said,

“Your future is created by what you do today, not tomorrow.”