End of supply operations at La Coop fédérée hardware & material distribution centre in Trois-Rivières

TROIS-RIVIÈRES, QC, Sept. 23, 2014 /CNW Telbec/ - La Coop fédérée announced today that on January 16, 2015, the closure of its hardware and material distribution centre (4225 St Joseph Blvd, 300 Albert-Durand St & 1650 St-François-Xavier St) will be complete. 

It should be remembered that the closure of this distribution centre was announced on February 7, 2014 and the time required to complete the closure was estimated at 12 to 15 months. Today's announcement conforms to the plan unveiled last winter.

Through the offer of severance pay, 60 employees have voluntarily left. The arrangements put in place last February to support employees, notably through career transition programs and psychological support for employees and their families, will continue. The 130 employees still working at the distribution centre were informed of the announcement today.

A consolidation of jobs in the regions
The involvement of La Coop fédérée in the hardware and construction material sectors is still a priority for its members and it intends to remain as a full player in its own right. The decision to close was guided by the strong competition in the retail trade sector, and by the fact that the hardware and renovation industry has been slowing down in recent years. For La Coop fédérée and its retail stores, there are 4,000 jobs at stake, with a large majority of these in the regions of Quebec, and it is imperative to remain competitive.

About La Coop fédérée
Founded in 1922, La Coop fédérée is the most important agri-food organization in Quebec. It is owned by over 100,000 members grouped into 97 cooperatives located in several Canadian provinces and it is present throughout the agri-food chain. La Coop fédérée, as well as being a wholesaler, also provides agricultural producers with all the goods and services they require for their farming operations. The network has five brands: Elite and La Coop (animal and crop production, grain marketing), Unimat (hardware and farm machinery), Sonic (energy) and Olymel (meat processing). La Coop fédérée employs almost 10,000 people with sales totaling $5.2 billion. Including its affiliated network, La Coop fédérée employs almost 16,000 people with sales of $8.3 billion. For more information, visit lacoop.coop and twitter.com/LaCoop_federee.

SOURCE: La Coop fédérée

Source: Ben Marc Diendéré, Vice-President, Communications & Public Affairs | Media Contact: Stéphanie Couturier, Communications Advisor, 514-217-8503, [email protected]