Over the past year, UFA has shared many exciting announcements including our expansion into Saskatchewan, upgrades to our Petroleum sites and refreshes at many of our Farm & Ranch Supply stores.
While we have placed a lot of focus on our multi-phased expansion into Saskatchewan, we have not forgotten our roots and the people and province that built us into the successful co-operative we are today. And that's why we are excited to share a major announcement for our members and customers in central Alberta.
We are pleased to announce we will be relocating our Red Deer Farm & Ranch Supply store and building a new Cardlock to better serve members and customers in the area.
We are committed to continuous improvement and investing in the communities we serve; announcements like today's demonstrate that commitment. The new 16,000 square foot Farm Store will have an expansive yard, with a chem shed located on site and for easy pick up, there will also be a three-bay drive-through warehouse.
The future Cardlock will feature state-of-the-art high-speed pumps with clear and dyed fuel, wide lanes, DEF, and Dieselex® Gold, UFA's exclusive premium diesel offering.
Members and customers will be able to easily access the new Farm Store and Cardlock, conveniently located in Gasoline Alley in the southwest corner of the city, easily accessible for drivers travelling either way on the QE2 and those on the west side coming from Highway 2A.
"Red Deer is a vibrant and strong market, and we are pleased to be able to enhance our service offering to its residents with the improvements we are making," said Glenn Bingley, Vice President, AgriBusiness and Supply Chain, UFA. "The investment UFA is making reflects our commitment to members and customers in the region and aligns with our aim to be the most trusted supplier of products and services in the markets we serve."
"UFA has a responsibility to support the farmers and ranchers who feed the world. It's a responsibility our co-operative takes seriously, and today's announcement ultimately is an investment in agriculture, which is critical, not only to our members' and customers' success but to economic recovery," said Scott Bolton, President and CEO, UFA. "UFA is in an ideal position to shine a spotlight on the agriculture sector and its importance, not only to Canada but to the world. Our members and customers are the driving force behind western Canadian food production, and it is strong, diverse, and poised for significant growth," adds Bolton. "The opportunity in front of us is why we are making considerable investments that enable farmers and ranchers to ensure food security on a global scale. We know the prairies are a place of abundance and the truth is the economic success of everyone in the Canadian food system depends on the success of our farmers and ranchers."
Construction for the project will begin this year, with an anticipated opening in late 2024. During construction, our current Farm & Ranch Supply store will remain open. Once the new site opens, we will close the current Red Deer Farm & Ranch Supply store. The Bar W office and shop will continue to operate from its current location, as will our current Cardlock.
We will continue to share updates as we progress on the development of this new site. For a sneak peek, please view the renderings below!
Front view rendering of new Red Deer UFA Farm & Ranch Supply store
Aerial view rendering of new Red Deer UFA Farm & Ranch Supply store and Cardlock
Side view rendering of new Red Deer UFA Farm & Ranch Supply store
Front view rendering new Red Deer UFA Farm & Ranch Supply store with warehouse and drive-thru
Front view rendering of new Red Deer UFA Farm & Ranch Supply store with Cardlock