LANIGAN — Federated Co-operatives Limited (FCL) has become a part owner of the seven agriculture retail locations operated by the Blair’s Family of Companies.
The joint venture will own and operate locations in Lanigan, Nokomis, Watrous, Liberty, McLean, Lipton and Rosthern.
Started 73 years ago, Blair’s provides innovative crop input as well as animal nutrition products and services to local area farmers.
Ron Healey, FCL vice-president of agriculture and consumer business, said these locations will continue to run in their current form under the same name, brand and staff without inclusion of co-op membership
“Blair’s business will continue to run the way it is now. For farm customers, they won’t see any difference. It will be business as usual at Blair’s,” Healey said.
“In the longer term, there is a possibility that farmers will see perhaps some additional products and services, some programs made available by the result of this partnership.”
According to Healey, a portion of the earnings will flow back to local co-ops.
“In this case, if Blair’s business continues to be successful – and we have every confidence that it will be – then those earnings, a portion will flow back into Federated. Those earnings will then bolster the patronage or dividends that flow back out to local co-ops like Humboldt and others.”
The venture is currently under Competition Bureau review. Under the Competition Act, mergers of all sizes and in all sectors of the economy are subject to review by the Commissioner of Competition to determine whether they will likely result in a substantial lessening or prevention of competition.
Healey said that at this time FCL isn’t at liberty to discuss financials including how much was spent in the joint venture or how much they estimate on making through it.
“The Competition Bureau is reviewing this and until they come back and formally approve the transaction we’ll operate as separate entities.”
