The 小蓝视频ern Plains Co-op spent much of the 2020-21 fiscal year navigating its way through the challenges created by COVID-19, and now they鈥檙e getting ready to emerge from those difficulties.聽
The co-op hosted its annual general meeting (AGM) on June 21 at the Prairie Dog Drive-In north of Carlyle. For the second consecutive year, the co-op鈥檚 AGM saw people pull into the drive-in鈥檚 parking stalls and listen to reports in their vehicles through the drive-in鈥檚 speaker system.聽
Approximately 45 people were present.
Financial statements for the year ending Jan. 31, 2021, showed the co-op had sales of $72.8 million in 2020-21, compared with $79.4 million in 2019-20. Cost of goods sold were nearly $59.9 million, down from $67.9 million the previous year.聽
Expenses were nearly $13.5 million, compared with $13.2 million the previous year. 聽
The co-op had a loss from operations of $345,883, compared with $1.49 million in 2019-20.聽
But after an loyalty program payment of $1.6 million and member patronage dividend of $873,997 from Federated Co-operatives Ltd., the co-op had savings of $2.1 million, versus $3.8 million the previous year.聽
After income taxes, net savings were at more than $1.8 million for 2020-21.
The member patronage allocation was about $1,399,846.
The co-op also invested $95,481 into the communities it serves through donations and member engagement activities.聽
Brian Enns, the general manager for the co-op, said sales decrease stemmed from the petroleum division, both cardlock and service station sales, as well as the agro department.聽
鈥淥ur petroleum sales were impacted two ways. The first one was deflation, as we seen the price of fuel go from $1.25 a litre to 80 cents a litre at various points in time,鈥� said Enns.聽
And the other was because people were travelling less during the pandemic.聽
On the bulk delivery side, they had a good year with the farmers.聽
All three food stores and the liquor stores saw their sales increase in the past fiscal year, he said. 聽聽
The strike at the Co-op Refinery Complex in Regina affected their member patronage dividend from FCL, which meant the local co-op had less money to turn over to its members. 聽
And while it was a COVID year, Enns said there were some positives, including retail sales.
鈥淲e still made money at the end of the year, so there was an allocation, and there were cheques sent out in the mail here over the last couple of weeks, so they should be in the hands of the members by now,鈥� he said.
Enns was pleased with how the co-op was able to shift during the past 16 months.
鈥淥verall, I鈥檓 very pleased with how we went through that, and adapted to all the changes that were required and implemented. Definitely a big thanks to all the team members that went through and remained clam.鈥� 聽
The co-op is working on a new liquor store in Carlyle, adjacent to their convenience store and gas bar at the junction of Highways 9 and 13. They hope to begin construction within the next three weeks and have it open for the fall. 聽
And they鈥檙e looking at a new food store in Carlyle for 2023-24, and for other opportunities to diversify. 聽
Also during the meeting, Frances Boutin, Scott Kienlen and David Murray, whose respective three-year terms on the board expired, were acclaimed to another term. They will join Rhonda Huish, James Lainton, Darcy Calder, Lynn Hewitt, Richard Ruetz and Linda Thauberger-Smith on the board.聽
Kienlen will be the board chairperson and Thauberger-Smith will be the vice-chair.聽
In his report, Keinlen noted the Estevan food branch began offering the Co-op Click and Collect online food ordering and pickup service, which is proving to be popular with customers.聽
鈥淲e are in preliminary planning stages to expand the services offered under the agro umbrella, namely bulk fertilizer commodities,鈥� Keinlen said.
The board chair noted the safety of staff and customers is and remains their top priority. Procedures were put in place, with new protocols, policies, equipment and sanitation measures.
鈥淭he implementation of grocery ordering and free delivery within our communities and outlying areas remains utilized and illustrates how our co-op continue to be community focused during these times.鈥� 聽
While the co-op has held its AGM at the drive-in for the past two years, they haven鈥檛 decided how they will approach next year鈥檚 meeting. Traditionally the co-op has held a supper and then the business session of the AGM.
Enns said the co-op is looking forward to business returning to normal on July 11. Masks will be optional for people to wear. The arrows on the floor will eventually fade away, and the Plexiglas shields will eventually disappear as well.聽
