Southland Co-operative Association has made the SaskBusiness Magazine’s Top 100 list ranking at 98 on the list of Saskatchewan’s largest companies. Last year, it ranked at 99. Southland Co-op formed in 1939 and employs 160 today. Sales in 2016 totaled $53.5 million.
SaskBusiness Magazine publishes annually a list of the largest 100 companies in the province.
Many Co-ops made the Top 100 list this year. Federated Co-operatives Ltd. was ranked as the number one company in the province for the second year in a row. It was formed in 1928 when retail co-op stores banded together, and now employs 2,263. Together, Co-ops in Saskatchewan have invested in 256 communities, served 428,000 Co-op members, and returned $376 million in profits to members in the past five years.
Southland Co-op is a retail cooperative that has served Assiniboia and southern Saskatchewan for more than 78 years. Today, Southland Co-op serves more than 8,000 members and many more customers in Assiniboia, Coronach, Gravelbourg, Lafleche, Mossbank and Willow Bunch, where there are food stores, petroleum, home centers and agro centers.
Community support has been a key factor in Southland Co-op’s success. “We have great support from our members in our growing trading area along with a great staff group,” stated Ken Bahuaud, General Manager of Southland Co-op in Assiniboia.
“We continually work at improving our assets, product lines and product knowledge.” Southland Co-op went on to congratulate its many customers across the southwest for making it one of the top retailers in the province.
Since 2007, Southland Co-op has returned more than $13.4 million to its members in cash back and equity, while contributing over $1.1 million to community organizations and initiatives.
Another Assiniboia company also made the list. Young’s Equipment placed 33 climbing from 38 last year. It was formed in 1988 in Regina.
