Co-op officially re-opens Northlands store

By Tim Kalinowski on November 18, 2017.

tkalinowski@medicinehatnews.com @MHNTimKal

South Country Co-op held a grand celebration Friday to mark the official re-opening of its Northlands food store.

In a ceremony that included speeches from dignitaries, a celebratory cake and a formal ribbon-cutting, Co-op employees, local contractors and municipal officials expressed their pride in a great local company which continues to invest in and contribute meaningfully to the communities it serves.

“This is the co-op store my family shops at,” Mayor Ted Clugston stated prior to the ribbon-cutting. “Right now during the downturn, South Country Co-op are the ones who are doing all the expanding … They are expanding and doing very well, and they always give back to the community.”

The $6-million renovation put into the store and warehouse in back included using cutting-edge energy efficient technology to reduce electrical cost and energy waste, including a heat recycling system which pumps heat generated from the new freezer system back in to reduce heating costs in the warehouse. The year-long renovation also used local contractors and labourers to complete.

“Being community-minded and a community supporter is who we are,” confirmed South Country CEO Mike Clement. “We always lean toward using local contractors. We used 98 per cent local trades in the reconstruction of this building. At the end of the day, it has turned out better than we would have ever dreamt. It is one of nicest stores in Medicine Hat now, and it is state-of-the-art.”

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