Co-op's Announce Plans to Amalgamate

Pioneer Co-op and Palliser Plains Co-op to Amalgamate Following Successful Votes

Pioneer Co-operative Association Limited and Palliser Plains Co-operative Association Limited will officially amalgamate the two local co-operatives, bringing Pioneer Co-op communities and Palliser Plains Co-op communities into one retail family.

On September 2nd, and September 12th, the Boards of Directors from both retails voted unanimously to proceed with amalgamating the four Palliser Plains Co-op communities (Tugaske, Craik, Shamrock, and Central Butte) and the nineteen Pioneer Co-op communities. To complete the amalgamation, Information Meetings were held in each Palliser Plains community to present the members with feasibility numbers, as well as to discuss the benefits of
amalgamation. These meetings also provided an opportunity for members to ask questions about the proposal. On October 28th, The Palliser Plains membership voted in favour of amalgamation, triggering a Pioneer Co-op vote, which took place on November 4th, and amalgamation was officially approved.

The 4 Palliser Plains Co-op communities will join the 19 Pioneer Co-op communities, resulting in a large retail consisting of 23 communities and over 31,000 members. This will officially come into effect as of February 1st, 2026.

Larry Kozun, CEO of Palliser Plains Co-op and Pioneer Co-op, explains “The amalgamation of our two Co-ops create a shared vision, increased market expansion, and cost savings and efficiencies. As competition increases in the retail environment, our organizations must improve our operating efficiencies in order to remain competitive. This amalgamation will provide long term stability to our members.”