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Keelor said Calgary Co-op, one of the largest retail co-operatives in North America, with sales of $1.3 billion in 2018, has a responsibility to its 440,000 members and 3,700 employees, and that the move to another supplier was undertaken to ensure “the long-term financial viability” of the retailer.

“We see headlines about other companies closing stores and taking radical action, even moving their business out of the country in some cases. We are positioning our business to make sure that does not happen to Calgary Co-op,” he said.

But Keelor said the decision wasn’t just a financial one. Co-op also felt that moving to another supplier would give the retailer more control and choice over the products offered in its stores.

“Our plan is to double the number of local products that we carry, our plan is to focus very much on suppliers in our community and strategic partners who’d like to work with us to drive Calgary’s economy,” Keelor said. “We are a retail co-operative, members come to us to shop. Their needs are evolving, and we need to evolve to reflect that.”

Keelor pointed out Calgary Co-op will continue to source its fuel for its gas bars from FCL.

“Calgary Co-op remains committed to maintaining a respectful relationship with Federated Co-op . . . and we expect the same from Federated,” he said.

The board and management of Calgary Co-op have become increasingly professionalized in recent years (Keelor was hired from Sobeys and also previously worked with the Overwaitea Food Group, which operates Save-On-Foods). The organization is also undertaking a 10-year, $2.5-billion capital investment campaign aimed at making it more modern and competitive.