RRCOOP History

Red River Co-op History


Overview:
 

[History]Red River Co-op began operations on September 15,1937. It was modeled after the British Rochdale Co-op, established in 1844 when a group of weavers pooled their resources to open their own store in order to share the profits. The Rochdale Co-op was so successful, their founding principles are used as guidelines for operating consumer co-operatives around the world. (See founding principles).
 
In the beginning: 1937 - 1957
 
  • 1937
 Incorporation and the fuel business began at 57 Myrtle Street.
  • 1939
 Moved to larger premises at Pembina and Garwood. Tires, grease and oil, batteries, and paint were added to products for sale.
  • 1946
 New store and warehouse opened at Pembina location. Commodities such as hardware, some building supplies and cattle feed were are added to the inventory.
  • 1948
 The first general store is opened at 1414 Main Street.
  • 1952-1955
 Heating fuel operation begins and the Main Street store closes. Amalgamations with Co-ops at Selkirk, Rosser and Oakbank.
   
An Period of expansion: 1957 - 1977
   
  • 1958
 Shopping centre and service station at Ellice and Wall opens.
  • 1961
 Shopping centre, including a service station, opens on Henderson Highway.
  • 1964
 Red River Co-op Parliament begins based on 18 districts.
  • 1965-1966
 Amalgamation with Co-ops at St. Norbert, Ste. Agathe and Starwood Co-operative in Stonewall.
  • 1968-1971
 In St. Norbert, a new service station is established and the store is enlarged. The delegate system and district representation to the Board begins. Many of the properties previously leased are purchased: other properties for expansion and new development are also acquired.
  • 1974
 Pembina at Garwood property is sold to the Province (future site of Autopac facility). The fuel department is moved to White Avenue.
  • 1975
 Self-serve gas bar opens at 1600 Regent Avenue and Tempo comes to Winnipeg
   
A period of re-focusing: 1977 - 2000
   
  • 1979
 Home Centre opens at McPhillips and Stardust.
  • 1983
 Equity is in a negative position and Red River restructures for survival.
-All properties are sold except for gas bars and bulk fuel sales.
-New management team assembled to assist Board in recovery.
-Focus returns to operating as a petroleum co-operative.
-Districts done away with and a seven-member board established.
  • 1986
 Logan Avenue gas bar is opened. It is the first new facility since the Home Centre in 1979.
  • 1987
 Equity returns to a break-even position.
  • 1988
 -First allocation to savings since 1980.
-Gas bars open at 747 Pembina Highway and 1355 Regent.
-Bulk facilities at Teulon moved and upgraded; gas bar opened.
  • 1989
 Gas bar opens at 1008 Keewatin Street.
  • 1990
 Gas bar at 1925 Portage Avenue opens.
  • 1992
 First cash payment to members in 17 years, and the 1355 Regent Avenue gas bar closes.
  • 1993
 Red River Cooperative helps to sponsor Jimmy Carter's Habitat for Humanity project in Winnipeg.
  • 1995
 Gas bar at 3623 Roblin Boulevard opens and the St. Norbert gas bar is upgraded.
  • 1996
 Facilities at 1600 Regent and 1070 Henderson are upgraded and the Niverville gas bar opens.
  • 1997
 -St. Anne's Road gas bar opens.
-Gross sales exceed $55 million.
-Membership rebounds to 31,000.
  • 1998
 Opened a new gas bar at Portage and Stewart with a large convenience store and car wash.
  • 1999
 -Gas bars open at Grant and Lindsay and in Ste Agathe.
-Record turnout at Annual Meeting in February of over 1300.
  • 2000
 -New location in Gimli with "Mac's" convenience store
-Gas bar on Henderson and Strood opens with a touchless car wash and convenience store
-First year for Board elections by mail or drop-off balloting
 
A period of Growth: 2001 to ...
 
  • 2001
 -1745 Kensaton Boulevard opens with a twin bay touchless car wash, large convenience store and is the
first Red River station to offer pay-at-the-pump
-275 Main Street in Selkirk opens with a touchless car wash, large convenience store and
pay-at-the-pump service
-Major upgrade of the Teulon bulk plant and gas bar with the addition of a cardlock
-$4.4 million in cash paid to members
-Membership exceeds 70,000
  • 2002
 -5.6 million in cash paid to members
-100-5540 Portage Ave in Headingley opens as 24-hour convenience store and cardlock
-New Large Convenience store and touchless car wash opened at 2615 McPhillips
  • 2003
 -6.5 million in cash paid to members
-1850 Brookside Blvd. opens with a large convenience store and cardlock
-New convenience store and twin touchless car wash under construction at 1617 St. Mary's Road
-New touchless car wash added to 190 St. Anne's road location
  • 2004
 -$8 million in cash paid to members
- 100,000 Memberships sold
- 345 Osborne opens with a large convenience store and twin touchless carwash
- 747 Pembina is completely upgraded with a large convenience store and ten pumps. This is our largest site do date.
  • 2005

-$10.4 million in cash paid to members
-Members earned an average of 7.25 cents per litre purchased*
-650 Archibald opens with 8 pumps, 8 lanes, 1785 square foot Convenience Store, and twin touchless carwash
  • 2006

-$16.2 million in cash paid to members
-Members earned an average of 7.75 cents per litre purchased*
-2535 Main opens with 12 pumps, 12 lanes, 3100 square foot Convenience Store, and our first Tunnel touchless carwash.

-650 Archibald opens with 8 pumps, 8 lanes, 1785 square foot Convenience Store, and twin touchless carwash
  • 2007

-28.8 million dollars in cash paid to members
-Members earned an average of 12.50 cents per litre purchased
-The opening of our Oakbank location with a 2042 square foot convenience store, 4 pump 8 lane gas bar. This project is part of the same development that features a 20,000 square foot Marketplace Grocery store owned by Beausejour Coop and a 5000 square foot Home Centre owned by Pembina Valley Co-op.
  • 2008

-35.4 million in cash paid to members
-Members earned an average of 12.50 cents per litre purchased
-The Stonewall location is rebuilt with a 2,500 square foot convenience store, 16 pump, 8 lane gas bar, single bay touchless car wash and a single stall, three season exterior wand wash.
-The St. Norbert location was replaced one block North on Pembina @ Grandmont, with a 20 pump 10 lane Gas Bar, 3100 square foot convenience store, and a touchless tunnel car wash.
 
  • 2009

-27.8 million in cash paid to members
-Members earned an average of 7.50 cents per litre purchased
-200,000th membership sold
- Gross sales exceed 360 million dollars
-A new cardlock opened at Don Valley Parkway close to the perimeter in the R M of Springfield.
- Regent and Owen location opens with a 16 pump, 8 lane gas bar, with a 2042 square foot convenience store, and a high speed touchless tunnel vehicle wash.
 
  • 2010

- 29.0 million in cash paid to members
-Members earned 7.94% on all petroleum purchased in 2010
-3425 Roblin Blvd opened with 20 pump, 10 lane gas bar with a 3100 square foot convenience store, and a high speed touchless tunnel vehicle wash. This facility replaces the small and outdated facility immediately West on Roblin.
-The Cardlock at 1960 Notre Dame is closed
 

 



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