MELFORT — For the Prairie North Co-op, 2017 was the year they saw essential projects begin and a merger undertaken.
“We had a stronger year in 2017,” said Randy Wassermann, the co-op’s general manager.
At the co-op’s annual general meeting April 30, the 2017 fiscal year saw earning increase to $1.4 million, compared to $1.1 million in 2016. Sales finished at $72.4 million, up from $70 million.
“We opened our renovated gas bar in Melfort, Wassermann said. “We added another lane of pumps and added onto the building, refurbished and modernized the building.”
Also in Melfort, renovations began at the Home and Agro Centre, which are expected to be completed in May.
In November, members of Prairie North and East Central Co-op voted to amalgamate, which was made official Dec. 31. Wassermann said so far, the process to merger went smoothly and they’re waiting to see what the approaching busy season will look like.
“We are very familiar with each other’s operations, having worked together for over four years now in a management agreement, so not much change in the day-to-day operations.”
The financial results of the merger will be seen in the 2018 fiscal report, to be presented next year.
Over in Kelvington, the co-op began work on a Home and Agro Centre, which should be done in May.
“It’s a modernized facility as far as our home centre offering goes. We’re moving from a small, outdated facility into a 12,000 square foot building, which will offer a lot more selection,” Wassermann said.
“It also has an agro component to it as well. We’re entering the ag business and we’re excited to have a facility to work out of now. We’ve been working out of an ATCO trailer for the last part of a year.”
As for the rest of 2018, Wassermann is optimistic.
“It’s looking like it’s going to shape up to be a stronger year again, depending on how the agricultural side of things goes.”
