Two farm stores operated by Midwest Co-Op will be closing in the next few months.
Midwest Co-op announced it’s closing its Chesley store on March 27th and the Mildmay store on June 26th.
They say delivery service will still be available throughout the area, and add surrounding locations are staffed, stocked, and prepared to support customers seamlessly. Nearby Midwest Co-op locations include Harriston, Teeswater, and Hanover.
They also say the Port Elgin location will be upgraded and re-launched as an express retail location, offering a focused selection of key retail items, livestock feed, pet food, and seasonal agricultural products. Renovations are expected to be completed this spring.
Midwest Co-ops closed at least three other locations in the past few years including Owen Sound, Dundalk and Auburn.
A release from Midwest Co-op says this is intended to strengthen long-term service to members and customers while improving efficiency and reinvesting in key locations across the trading area.
Midwest Co-op says it has prioritized retaining staff wherever possible and several people from the affected locations will be relocating to nearby stores.
General Manager Allan Williamson says in a statement, “Our goal is to ensure we remain strong, local, and sustainable for the long term,” adding, “This realignment allows us to focus investment where it has the greatest impact, while continuing to serve customers through nearby locations, delivery trucks, and familiar staff.”
Midwest Co-operative Services Inc. was formed on September 1, 2022, through the merger of two long-standing co-ops: Huron Bay Co-operative Inc. and North Wellington Co-operative Services Inc. Together, Midwest Co-op currently operates ten retail stores, five cardlock fuel stations, three bulk plants, four agronomy centers, and a corporate office located in Teeswater.