It took less than half an hour for explanations, a question-and-answer period, and voting to conclude on Wednesday night as Humboldt Co-op members deliberated on the proposed amalgamation of the Humboldt and Muenster Co-ops.
Like the vote with Muenster members the night before, the decision was a unanimous “yes” to proceed. Forty-eight Humboldt Co-op members, many with dual membership in the Muenster Co-op cast their ballots at Humboldt’s Legion Hall and at the Lanigan Legion.
Joe Von Doellen, general manager of the Humboldt Co-op expressed surprise at the strength of the decision from both sides. He’s been through such amalgamation efforts before in other centres, but he said he’s never seen a resolve like this one.
“I have never seen both communities vote 100 percent. I really feel that it shows the confidence of the members in the Co-ops. When you have a $70 million Co-op amalgamating with a $1 million Co-op, people are asking why, but there are benefits. It’s about the communities. There’s an opportunity to be profitable, gain new customers, build new relationships – all of which are very important to the Co-operative retailing system.”
Those sentiments were reflected by the Muenster contingent. That resounding “yes” reinforced a sense that both Co-op organizations were on the right path," said Muenster Co-op Board Chair Glen Korte following the vote.
“Well, it’s pretty awesome. Like Joe just said, it’s probably the first ever that both communities voted 100 percent to amalgamate and do what we are doing here. It’s a confidence thing from both sides.”
Von Doellen reiterated some of the benefits to both sides. In Muenster, he mentioned the possibility of employing 24-hour credit card capable card locks to replace an existing keylock system at the gas pumps in Muenster and St. Gregor. A new product scanning till would be immediately available.
Also, the ability to share smaller volumes of product between the Humboldt and Muenster outlets means increased produce and meat variety and better freshness.
Humboldt Co-op sees an increased level of cooperation between the centres potentially leading to new customers on the ag side, as well as for the food and fuel centres.
In the end, the agreement strengthens the viability of a small Co-op outlet that has seen challenges in the face of a shifting marketplace. The new amalgamated Humboldt Co-op comes into effect on January 1, 2025.