The Co-operative Association held their 66th annual general meeting on April 18 in Vanderhoof where record sales for 2010 were reported.
Sales increased by over 30 per cent in 2010, a fact attributed to improved economic conditions in central BC as well as member support and dedicated staff.
Co-op members will receive cash back totaling $6.1 million which equals 4.6 per cent on their annual purchases made last year, or 5 cents per litre on fuel.
Despite record sales, Glen Currie, Controller at the Vanderhoof Co-op administration office, says the cash back allocation to members is about average.
Over 230 members and guests attended the event at the Friendship Centre where board election incumbents Ken Loper and Henry Dyck from the Vanderhoof, Prince George and Burns Lake District, and Nirmal Parmar from the Terrace District, were elected for a three year term.
A number of Co-op employees were also recognized for their longevity of service.
Barry Clarke and Milton Conn from Prince George, along with Marlene Sholer, Doreen Frost, Rachel Lockhart and Glenda Wasylenko from Vanderhoof received their five-year award; Sean Rodgers and Donna Mycock from Vanderhoof received their 10-year award; Noreen Michalyk from Houston received a 25-year award; and Addie Ippel from Terrace received a 30-year award.
Certificate of Achievement and Training awards were also given to Colleen Erickson from Vanderhoof for nine years; Cesar Isidoro from Vanderhoof for 12 years; and Rene Jones from Vanderhoof and Nirmal Parmar from Terrace received their 18 years award.
Co-op has a number of projects planned for 2011 including building an Agro and Convenience Store on the site of the cardlock in Quesnel; completion of a Canfor cardlock site in Houston; and the replacement of the bulk fuel plant and feasibility study for a new hardware facility in Vanderhoof.