Stephan Burnett
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Mar 24/04) - The Yellowknife Direct Charge Co-op is working hard to ensure its members stay loyal.

That's the word from member relations representative, Margaret Woodley.

The Co-op plans to have an official grand re-opening on April 4.

The construction period has been a struggle, Woodley admits. Since Extra Foods opened its new store, Co-op sales have been faltering.

"With the new Extra Foods, sales are down. We realize there's some strong competition down the road. We price check well over 1,000 items per week to ensure we stay close," says Woodley.

"They're corporately owned and we're locally owned. We don't have the ability to get into a price war, but people are coming back to the Co-op," she says.

One of the reasons why Yellowknifers are considering the Co-op is the 9.1 per cent discount at the gas bar, said Woodley.

"Every day long-time Yellowknifers are joining the Co-op and ensuring that profits are kept locally," said Woodley.

The expansion efforts have been worth it, says Woodley.

"We just have to ensure that we have the best service and the best products. That's our goal," said Woodley.

The current expansion, completed at a cost of $8 million, includes the new store as well as a new gas bar and convenience store.

The Co-op's first gas bar, built in 1987, has grown from six pumps and a 400-ft kiosk to 12 pumps and a 1.785-sq.-ft. fully-stocked convenience store.