Melfort, SK (for immediate release) - For over 100 years Co-op has been serving North East Saskatchewan through co-operation, collaboration, and innovation. Today, Prairie North Co-op and the City of Melfort are proud to announce a project that honours the co-operative’s commitment to building a legacy with the construction of a new, 25,000 square foot Co-op Food Store adjacent to the Stone Gate development. Says Terry Tremblay, General Manager of Prairie North Co-op, “COVID-19 may have taught us new ways of doing business, but it also highlighted the need to modernize. The existing food store has served our members for 45 years from its current location. This new build will ensure that Prairie North Co-op grocery customers in Melfort and surrounding area will be able to access our great Co-op products in a new food store that will allow us to leverage new technological advances in the food industry. Our board recognized that our members have been loyal for over 100 years and they absolutely deserve a world class facility”.

Mayor Glenn George stated “Prairie North Coop’s announcement is exciting news for our City and all people living in the Region. Residents from all over Northeast Saskatchewan require access to services and provisions. Prairie North Co-op’s new modern grocery store will be one more reason for shoppers to come to Melfort.”

“Saskatchewan Drive is the busiest traffic location in the City with more daily vehicle movements than many high traffic locations in larger cities across the province,” said Brent Lutz, Director of Development and Planning for the City of Melfort. “With the additional traffic generated by a new food store development, we expect additional interest in development at the adjacent Stone Gate Shopping Centre.”

The new food store will be accessed off Hwy. #6 at the traffic lights by the McDonalds. Site preparation is slated to begin Spring 2021 with construction planned as early as Fall/Winter 2021-22. “If all goes well, we plan to be open for Christmas 2022,” explains Tremblay, “the new build will play a key role in helping us to achieve our vision of being the trusted first choice in our community, and for that, I would like to personally thank the Prairie North Co-op Board of Directors for their leadership and foresightedness.”