SUNDERLAND CO-OPERATIVE, INC.
1 River Street, Sunderland
General Manager: Clare Hayes
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- Sunderland Co-operative Inc. is a member owned co-operative providing full service in retail, crops, feed, grain and petroleum products to customers in the east central Ontario area. The Co-op's goal is to improve the profitability of its members by supplying them with quality goods and services at competitive prices.
- the Co-operative was first established in 1950 and now has nearly 1,800 members. It achieved over $30-million in total sales in 2006 and paid nearly $320,000 in patronage dividends to its members. The Co-op has never failed to declare a patronage dividend to its members, a remarkable accomplishment in some years.
- the Co-op operates five business units that work together as a team from locations in Sunderland, Oakwood and Lindsay Petroleum. It now employs 40 full-time staff plus 15 seasonal and part-time workers.
- the secret to the Co-op's success according to Clare is: "a strong Board of Directors; supply quality goods and services with knowledgeable staff that care; use profits to grow the business, update services, and maintain a strong balance sheet; return surplus to members in the form of cash patronage".
- the Co-operative is currently working with the Region's Economic Development and Tourism Department on a business plan to establish a biodiesel production facility in Durham Region.
