Saskatoon based Federated Cooperatives Ltd (FCL) is looking to do business with Indigenous communities.
To do this the organization is working to roll out a new brand aimed at those communities.
FCL’s Vice President of Energy Brian Humphreys explained Western Nations Gas Bars will be a true partnership with the company and the local community.
“A Western Nations Indigenous Gas Bar would be a locally independently owned and operated gas bar by the Indigenous community that’s participating,” he said.
Humphreys said while the gas bars will be locally owned and operated, they will still offer Co-op products. FCL will supply them with fuel and other petroleum products. Local communities will also be offered support in getting up and going.
Humphreys said FCL will also be providing grant money based on the amount of fuel sold which can be invested into community initiatives.
“We’re really excited about the co-op community assistance development program portion of this,” he said.
In developing the brand Humphreys said FCL consulted with Indigenous communities and leaders across western Canada.
Humphreys believes they are ahead of their competitors in offering a program such as this. He added FCL is currently working to get word out about the program out and said they do have a few communities that are interested.
“We hope that it can grow, they’ll be convenience stores obviously and maybe it can grow into other lines of products as well,” he said.