Market News

CCC Shuts Down Seven Stores

Consumer Community Co-operative (CCC), Canada 's second-largest retail food co-operative, closed seven of its stores in Atlantic Canada in January in response to poor sales. An eighth store will be converted to private, independent ownership. The news did not come as a surprise to industry insiders; according to one source, some CCC retail outlets have been unprofitable for a decade. Four of the closing stores are in Nova Scotia: in Bras d'Or, Amherst, Middleton and Bridgewater. The rest are in Fredericton and Saint John, NB; and Corner Brook, NL. The closures leave approximately 130 full-time and part-time employees out of work. The CCC outlet in Summerside, PEI, is still operational, pending discussions of its transfer to an independent. In all, the CCC will now operate 18 stores. Source: Canadian Grocer E-Newsletter, January 30, 2006.