2016 FP 500 Rankings - La Coop fédérée is among the largest enterprises in Canada

MONTREAL, June 2, 2016 /CNW Telbec/ - La Coop fédérée is proud to be among the largest enterprises in Canada, according to the 2016 FP 500 rankings from the Financial Post Magazine, made public today. The record results announced during its annual general meeting in February, have contributed to moving La Coop fédérée from the 86^th position to the 74^th in the rankings. Furthermore, La Coop fédérée is also the second largest agri-food organization in Canada after Cargill Ltd, according to these same rankings.

"La Coop fédérée has been part of the Quebec and Canadian economic landscape for nearly 100 years and contributes to the sensitive sectors of the economy, such as agriculture, agri-food, energy and retail trade. The ranking revealed today by the Financial Post Magazine recognizes that a cooperative organization like ours can compete against the largest corporations in the country," declared Gaétan Desroches, CEO of La Coop fédérée.

"I am all the more proud to see that large organizations working in the agri-food sector can be found in these rankings. Agriculture and agri-food occupy a central place in the Canadian economy, generating $108.1 billion representing 6.6% of the GDP. This sector provides about one in eight jobs in Canada, employing more than 2.3 million people. This is not insignificant given that this sector contributes to feeding the world," he added.

In addition to being recognized for the part it plays in the Canadian economy, La Coop fédérée also distinguishes itself by its employer qualities. It is one of Aon Hewitt's 2016 Best Canadian Employers and recently won a Mercure in the Proactive Labour Management category during the 36^th edition of the Mercuriades Gala organized by the Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec.

About La Coop fédérée
Founded in 1922, La Coop fédérée is the largest agri-food organization in Quebec. It is owned by more than 90,000 members grouped together within 72 cooperatives located across several Canadian provinces and it is present throughout the agri-food chain. As a wholesaler, La Coop fédérée provides agricultural producers with the goods and services necessary for their operations. Its activities are separated into three divisions: Agribusiness (livestock and crop productions, and marketing grains, under the Elite and La Coop brands), Retail and Innovation (energy, hardware and farm machinery under the Sonic, Unimat, BMR, and Agrizone brands), and Meats (under the Olymel, Flamingo and Lafleur brands). La Coop fédérée employs 12,200 people with revenues reaching $5.9 billion. Including its affiliated cooperatives, La Coop fédérée counts more than 18,350 employees and combined revenues of $9.6 billion. www.lacoop.coop  twitter.com/LaCoop_federee.

SOURCE La Coop fédérée

Source: Ben Marc Diendéré, Senior Vice-President, Communications and Public Affaires, La Coop fédérée, Twitter: @Marc_Ben; Media Contact: Marie-Hélène Cliche, Manager, Corporate Communications, Telephone: [phone], Email: [email protected]