Yellowknife Direct Charge Co-op manager John Taylor expects construction on expansion to begin in a few months. - Norm Poole/NNSL photo

"We have gone to tender and expect construction to start by spring," said general manager John Taylor. "We hope to have the entire project completed by fall."

The store will nearly double in size to 4,230 square metres (47,000 sq.ft.).

"This is a major expansion that has been two years in the making," said Taylor.

"It will enable us to provide better service for our customers, a better shopping environment, and expanded product lines."

The produce, frozen foods and bakery departments will see the biggest changes.

"In the produce department we will have two new 6'x12' produce tables, 13 more produce bins and another 34 feet of refrigerated produce counters.

The aisles will be 14 feet wide -- about double what they are now -- so there will be lots of room to manoeuvre. Our carts are two feet wide so you could go six or seven carts abreast if need be."

The frozen foods department will be five times larger with new energy-efficient upright freezers that can be restocked from the rear.

The deli will be three times bigger with a broader product selection including fresh fish. Dry goods shelves will be 33 per cent longer and the case-lot department will be larger and feature a broader product selection.

Three new checkout tills will be added, along with a sit-down coffee area, product demonstration kiosks, and an Internet station for product or menu research.

The project will kick off with the relocation of the gas bar and fuel tanks to the southwest corner of the property. This will be completed by summer and there will be little or no service interruption, Taylor said.

The gas bar will have two additional pump stations with multi-grade dispensers.

"The only fuel that won't be available at all of the dispensers is diesel."

The gas bar convenience store will be considerably bigger.

"It will be quite different. The gas bar now is about 70 square feet now and the new one will be 1,700 square feet. In addition to candy and pop it will also carry camping, boating and fishing supplies."

The Yellowknife Co-op has 3,500 members and employs 117 full- and part-time workers. Last year it returned a $1.2 million profit to members.