Calgary Co-op presents Chamber Fest 2023: Sunset Barbecue

On June 8, the Calgary Chamber is hosting our biggest party of the year: Chamber Fest, a celebration of our members and the Calgary business community. As a long-time supporter of the Chamber, Calgary Co-op has joined us this year as our presenting sponsor.

Embodying the true spirit of community, quality and authenticity, Calgary Co-op has undoubtedly established itself as a household name in and around Calgary.

Calgary Co-op has built a legacy rooted in providing service, care and excellence. With community consistently at the heart of Calgary Co-op’s core values, the team takes pride in supporting over 300 local suppliers and 2500 local products, paying close attention to the opinions and concerns of local patrons.

With their first location founded by farmers and ranchers in 1956, Calgary Co-op was used to bring fresh farm food to local communities. Although the company has evolved since, they have remained steadfast in their dedication to serving Calgarians and being a trusted leader in the retail market.

A passion for people

Ken Keelor, CEO of Calgary Co-op, is no stranger to the grocery business. Originally from India, Ken explored education in his undergrad in physics, before achieving an MBA in marketing. Ken built his career specializing in marketing, merchandising and procurement for big brands including Proctor & Gamble, Save-On-Foods, Sobey’s and Rexall, before joining Calgary Co-op.

“I had never been to a Calgary Co-op store in my life,” he says. “I spoke to team members and members in the store and I saw an amazing culture.” With a fascination for products, marketing and consumer shopping behaviours, Ken joined the Co-op team in 2014 and has helped them build a strategy that they continue to utilize and refine.

As CEO, Ken explains that on the inside of the operations, it’s more than just a grocery business.

“If you work for a company like Calgary Co-op, you can migrate across different lines of business and different departments as you grow into one day potentially leading a company, which for me is a privilege to have that experience I can share.”

Ken Keelor, CEO, and Brad Krizan, Board Chair, Calgary Co-op

With 2023 being Ken’s ninth year as CEO of Calgary Co-op, he notes that Co-op stores have been transforming dramatically, especially over recent years. As Calgary Co-op’s new private brands have emerged, it was important for them to showcase a brand that was not only dedicated to being local, but one that exuded personality. One of their newest brands, Cal & Gary’s, cleverly unites the ideas of localness and personality with the perfect touch of cheeky, local humor.

“Cal & Gary’s is a quality product at an awesome price compared to national brands,” says Ken. “We have these Calgary-isms we put on each product to bring a smile to your face, but you have to be Calgarian to get it.”

As a current board member of the Calgary Chamber, Ken notes how crucial it is for Calgary Co-op to remain active in the community, establish connections with other business leaders and be a representative within the Calgary business community.

“We see the Chamber as a connector to suppliers, providers, technology and other services,” he says. “We also see it as an opportunity to network and share what we’re doing so people can become more aware of that in other businesses.”

“The biggest difference between us and competitors: When we want to know what’s going on in Calgary, we just step out the door.”

When it comes to competitors, Ken points to Calgary Co-op’s excellence within the quality of their products.

“Some of our competitors are very price-focused,” he says. “You’ll find us competitive on price, but more focused on quality, service and localness.” With their fierce loyalty to their community members, they also believe that their involvement with the community sets them apart from others.

A commitment to giving back

With Calgary Co-op having evolved a lot throughout the years, they have remained unwavering in their community support. Having supported multiple organizations such as the Calgary Food Bank, Brown Bagging for Calgary's Kids, Meals on Wheels and the Mustard Seed, to name a few in 2022, Calgary Co-op with their members collectively donated $2.8 million in food and funds to local charities. During the pandemic, they were also seeking ways to help struggling local businesses. After meeting with local restaurants, they were able to help them bring freshly made food items to their store to sell, such as pasta sauces.

As Calgary and much of Canada continue to navigate post-pandemic inflation and increasing food insecurity, Ken emphasizes the importance of continuing to support the community and finding new ways to be of service.

“You won’t find us making grandiose statements. We really believe actions speak louder than words.”

In addition to the commitment of $3.1 million towards the issue of food insecurity, Calgary Co-op team members have also launched the Fresh Food Rescue Program that donates consumable perishables to those in need. This program is active in 22 locations in and around Calgary, including the food banks in Airdrie, Strathmore and High River.

Their environmental initiatives have also been high-priority, as they have integrated compostable bags, EV charging stations, LED lights and freezer covers into their locations. As they expect less reliance on fuel in the future, they anticipate exploring new avenues of business, expanding their operations and continuing to leverage environmental efficiency.

Ken believes Calgary Co-op’s values and initiatives should speak for themselves, in creating a forward-thinking, community-focused brand.

“You won’t find us making grandiose statements,” he says. “We really believe actions speak louder than words.”

Calgary Co-op, Midtown Market

A collaborative future

With innovation and transformation currently top-of-mind, Ken describes a lot of exciting projects on the horizon. In addition to a brand-new app scheduled to launch in September, Calgary Co-op has put efforts into store renovations, site redevelopments and new décor. With a rebrand now in full swing set to complete in November, Ken anticipates Calgary Co-op feeling more fresh, youthful and exciting following the revamp.

“We’ve used different colours on the palette—we used to just have plain red and black,” he says. “That symbolizes where we are going in the transformation.”

Calgary Co-op also looks to put more focus on their real estate, providing tenants with more commercial units and growing their current subsidiaries. More than anything, Ken wants to continue to solidify the organization as one that warrants trust and supports the community it serves—one that is truly local and connected.

“The biggest difference between us and competitors: When we want to know what’s going on in Calgary, we just step out the door.”

About Calgary Co-op

Calgary Co-op is the presenting sponsor of Chamber Fest 2023: Sunset Barbecue.

Owned by members, Calgary Co-op is one of the largest retail co-operatives in North America. Locations in Calgary, Airdrie, Cochrane, High River, Okotoks, and Strathmore include food centres, pharmacies, gas stations, car washes, Home Health Care centres, Wine, Spirits, and Beer locations and cannabis. In addition, Calgary Co-op operates and is the beneficial owner of Community Natural Foods, Beacon Pharmacies, The Organic Box and Willow Park Wines & Spirits.

With over 400,000 members, 3,850 employees, assets of $700 million and annual sales of $1.3 billion, Calgary Co-op was recognized as one of Alberta's Top 75 Employers of 2023 and is committed to delivering an exceptional customer experience through inspired team members.

Please visit www.calgarycoop.com for more information.

Want to join Calgary Co-op as a sponsor at one of our events? Contact sponsorships@calgarychamber.com for more information.