Clearview Co-op will now be gaining expertise in the grocery business thanks to an amalgamation with La Broquerie Co-op.

Members voted 98.9 percent in favour of the move, that takes effect November first, at Thursday night's annual general meeting. La Broquerie members also voted 98 percent in favour at their AGM on Wednesday night. One member from each Co-op voted against the merger.

Clearview General Manager Henry Nickel says grocery is one way they are looking to diversify and notes, although the opportunity has not yet come forward, the idea of a Co-op grocery store in Steinbach is not dead.

"This is something that, yes, we're looking at all kinds of diversification and grocery is one of them and so we're looking at grocery markets wherever in our trading area," Nickel adds.

He says this is one step up as they move into "other areas" and notes this gives them "strength in that area that we didn't have today."

Both Nickel and La Broquerie General Manager Claudette Taillefer say this is a good fit as La Broquerie is, geographically, in the centre of Clearview's trading area. Nickel points out there are several "synergies and benefits" with this amalgamation which was brought to both board's attention in late 2017. Taillefer says their board felt this was a good move as it will provide growth for their gas bar, Agri-Centre and grocery store. 

La Broquerie Co-op will become a part of Clearview, formerly Ste.Anne Co-op, as of November 1

"We see it as a win-win, a positive for the future and we believe it's only going to get better," says Taillefer. She adds no jobs will be lost in La Broquerie when the change takes effect in November noting her position will change to La Broquerie branch manager.

Nickel says they also plan to further develop the Mitchell location by expanding the gas bar and convenience store along with the potential addition of a carwash. Clearview purchased property adjacent to the Mitchell Co-op a few years ago with plans of a future expansion, and after the loss of Dick Penner last year, Nickel explains they then purchased the convenience store from the Penner family.

$8.6 million was paid back to Clearview members this year which comes out to 7.2 cents a litre. Nickel notes 2018 was a "strong year" for Co-op both regionally and federally.

"As being members of the Federated Co-op, we benefit from whatever they do and Federated Co-op, at the refinery level, had a fantastic year and so our members benefited through that."

Nickel says La Broquerie memberships will transfer over in November and adds for those who are members of both Co-ops, they would come together as one lump sum. Nickel says their shares would be added to Clearview as well.