Derek Neary
Northern News Services

Fort Simpson (Oct 27/00) - Kim Myers spends as much time on staffing as groceries.

"Basically my number one job is managing people," said Myers, Northern Store's food manager for the past three years, who is also responsible for 25 full- and part-time employees.

But groceries don't take a back seat. With five inventories -- produce, meat, tobacco, chilled (primarily dairy) and the Quik Stop -- the continuity and flow of goods is very important, he said. Of course, with produce coming from Edmonton, milk from Calgary and non-perishables all the way from Winnipeg, it's not always an easy task.

Two trucks arrive each week from Edmonton with combined freight from each of the three cities. By the time items are loaded in the trucks a day is lost. Another day is lost when trucks make the 1,400-kilometre drive to Fort Simpson.

"We try to be as diligent as possible to provide a quality product," Myers said, adding the logistics can sometimes make it difficult. "We try not to put anything out (on the shelves) that we wouldn't buy ourselves."

Because of the two-day delay, the bread shelves and milk shelves simply can't always be full. Down south, most stores get shipments every day, he said.

The real test comes with freeze-up, only a few weeks away. Myers figures out what will be needed and stockpiles 30,000-35,000 pounds of non-perishable freight in anticipation of the annual phenomenon.

"After three years, you basically know what sells and the quantities," he said.

"You sort of have to be right on ... If we're flying them in we absorb the cost."

While the Northern Store swallows the additional transportation costs on non-perishables -- roughly three times the normal rate, according to Myers -- customers have to dig a little deeper for items like milk and produce.

The company's private investors aren't going to see all their profits go out the window. It's a business, after all.

"It's a plain fact of life, it costs more to do business in the North," Myers said.

On the other hand, the store tries to do its part in the community by sponsoring awards, taking part in events, holding an annual community clean-up and frequently honouring requests for donations and discounts on goods, he said.

When it comes to what's found on the shelves, the Northern Stores attempt to be consistent with their products.

"There is flexibility, but as a company you really want to have the same items in every store," he said, adding that requests for particular products aren't out of the question.

"We will bring in items that aren't in the assortment if the product sells."