Otter Co-op is expanding with the acquisition of 25 more retail fuel sites in B.C.

The announcement was made late last week, on the same day the Aldergrove-based co-operative held its annual fundraising golf tournament in Pitt Meadows.

The new gas bars and convenience stores are located in Chilliwack, Harrison Hot Springs, Hope, Ashcroft, Squamish, Whistler, Pemberton, Princeton, Savona, Kelowna, Osoyoos, Penticton, Kamloops, Winfield, Summerland, and Rock Creek. They91裸聊视频檙e situated throughout the B.C. Interior and Lower Mainland region, where Otter Co-op already operates 11 existing stations 91裸聊视频� with five more slated for construction during the next year, said Jack Nicholson, Otter Co-op CEO.

This will allow Otter Co-op to grow its services in existing communities and expand into new areas, Nicholson confirmed during the official announcement last Thursday evening at the organization91裸聊视频檚 golf tournament91裸聊视频檚 banquet.

91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e so proud to share this announcement91裸聊视频� As a co-op, we91裸聊视频檙e focused on investing in our communities and bringing value to our members,91裸聊视频� Nicholson said.

91裸聊视频淎dding these sites to our fuel network signals our co-op91裸聊视频檚 commitment to growing and serving our communities for the long term,91裸聊视频� he added.

For the past 12 years, Otter has been expanding and diversifying.

In addition to the operations in Aldergrove, there are eight gas stations in the Lower Mainland, plus Otter runs another feed mill in Armstrong, a couple gas bars in the Interior, and 26 liquor stores (about half in the Interior).

This announcement drew strong applause from a crowd of about 135 golfers at Golden Eagle Golf Course in Pitt Meadows on Aug. 25.

Nicholson explained how these retail fuel sites were purchased from Federated Co-operatives Limited (FCL) as part of its agreement to acquire 171 Husky retail fuel sites from Cenovus Energy Inc., which was announced in November 2021. Otter91裸聊视频檚 portion of that was the 25 gas bar.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 a significant investment for our members, and a significant return for our members, as well, because petroleum still makes up a fairly significant portion of our bottomline,91裸聊视频� Nicholson explained.

91裸聊视频漌e know, long term, that petroleum is going to decline. But at this time, it is currently strong, and again as I say, it91裸聊视频檚 still a very big piece of our bottomline. And, the locations are great locations for the future too, whether they are convenience stores, or pharmacies, or liquor stores. But that91裸聊视频檚 30 years from now, because people are still going to be driving.91裸聊视频�

Otter Co-op will officially take ownership of these additional fuel sites on Tuesday, Sept.13.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 fantastic. It91裸聊视频檚 some great expansion. It91裸聊视频檚 some great bottomline returns for our members for the next several years, for sure. And it continues to fill in some of those gaps where we don91裸聊视频檛 have services yet91裸聊视频� the big thing for folks is that then that money stays in the community. We are here in B.C., and that money stays here in B.C. It doesn91裸聊视频檛 go to Toronto or Texas.91裸聊视频�

These fuel sites will continue to operate under the Husky brand until they are re-branded as co-op or one of co-op91裸聊视频檚 independent brands, Nicholson explained.

91裸聊视频淢y Husky Rewards91裸聊视频� members can still earn and redeem points on all applicable transactions at Husky-branded sites, and Husky gift cards can still be redeemed at any Husky-branded sites as a form of payment, but can no longer be purchased, the CEO noted.

Co-op members will not be able to use their co-op numbers at the new locations, he explained, while they are branded as Husky.

Otter has been working on this deal for more than three years, and Nicholson said it was only a happy coincidence that the competition bureau released the sale on Thursday, the same day as their golf tournament.

91裸聊视频淭he timing was just great,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淚n fact, the timing was perfect.91裸聊视频�

During last week91裸聊视频檚 golf event, Nicholson was also able to make a surprise announcement.

While giving out awards to 34 participating teams at the day-long event 91裸聊视频� which is designed for team members and vendors of Otter Co-op and Angry Otter Liquor stores 91裸聊视频� he gave the top winners from BC Lottery Corp. their first-place trophy, Apple AirPods for each team member, and a chance for the team to pick a local charity to receive $10,000 91裸聊视频� proceeds from this year91裸聊视频檚 tournament.

The lottery team was given four charities to chose from, and they opted to give the $10K to BC Children91裸聊视频檚 Hospital, a non-profit organization that was receiving a call early this week to learn of the unexpected donation.

In past, the money raised in the Otter Co-op tournament has been used for prizing. But this year, with sponsorships and registration fees, the large number inspired them to do something for the community, Nicholson said.

91裸聊视频淲e thought it is so significant, let91裸聊视频檚 do something good with it. And again, we want to be about building community and giving back, so we thought this was a great opportunity to donate a good chunk of the golf tournament towards a charity.91裸聊视频�

Nicholson also shared that Sept. 20 is Fuel Good Day, where 10 cents from every litre of gas pumped at their existing and new gas bars goes to Abbotsford Hospice Society, Canuck Place Children91裸聊视频檚 Hospice, and Encompass Support Services Society.

91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e expecting that to be at least a $20,000 donation, so we hope people will fuel up and fuel good,91裸聊视频� he said.

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