A new grocery store has opened in Cloverdale.
Co-op Essentials, is being billed as a unique offering from Co-op, “a first of its kind food store” to open in Surrey. The new store is a joint project between Aldergrove's Otter Co-op and Saskatoon’s Federated Co-operatives Limited (FCL).
The grand opening took place June 11 with Jack Nicholson, Otter Co-op CEO, and Rick Fernandes, FCL vice president, both on hand for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially open the store.
“Otter Co-op is excited to bring Co-op Essentials to the Cloverdale community,” said Nicholson. “This new format is designed to understand and quickly adapt to customers changing lifestyles to meet their unique needs. I’m genuinely excited for this new food store, and the positive impact it will have on our community.”
The Co-op Essentials store will differ from other grocery stores. It will have a smaller footprint (the Cloverdale location is 15,000 square feet) than many other grocery stores. It will stock Co-op branded and local products thereby bringing in extra savings to customers, the company noted.
“A lot of our products, especially produce, will be brought in locally,” Nicholson told the Cloverdale Reporter. “Our actual Co-op Gold chips are made right in Surrey. So, we’re excited about that. And a lot of our name-brand products are manufactured here in the Lower Mainland.”
Fernandes said FCL was “proud” to have have partnered with Otter Co-op to help design and implement this “new concept” food store.
“What makes Co-op a different kind of business is that each local Co-op and their community are distinct, and we want to celebrate that,” he said. “This new format allows us to extend the Co-op food offering to new customers and communities and provide everyday savings to the consumer.”
Charlie Fox, Otter Co-op president, said it was “great” to be back in Cloverdale and to have “Co-op presence” in the town once again.
He said they wanted Co-op Essentials to be “an entity that was going to be a positive contribution to the community and yet meet the needs of a (fast-growing) area like Cloverdale.”
About 300 people were lined up for the opening and many streamed in shortly after the store opened. The first 500 customers were given a coupon for a free jug of milk. There were also in-store savings on a variety of products.
Another 150-200 members of the Cloverdale community, representatives from Otter Co-op, and representatives from FCL took in the ribbon cutting ceremony to officially open the store.
Paul Orazietti, executive director of the Cloverdale BIA, said he was “thrilled” to see the store opening in Brick Yard Station.
“This is the return of an old friend,” noted Orazietti. “For some of the older folks that live here, the Co-op used to be located on Highway 10 and 176A Street. So, this is probably one of the more exciting news stories that we’ve been talking about for awhile.”
He said Otter and FCL have already reached out to the BIA and local groups about how they can be involved in helping out in the community.
“They’re a perfect fit for Cloverdale,” he added. “This is a super-positive story.”
Nicholson added he was also very happy to see a Co-op in Cloverdale again.
“We’re locally owned, been here for 102 years—and really excited for the next 102, and proud to be a part of the Cloverdale community.”
The new food store is located at 17433 56th Avenue in Brick Yard Station (in the old Staples store location).
For more info, visit otterco-op.crs.
