Co-op Atlantic wins Maritimes Business Ethics Award For immediate release November 3, 2005 Co-op Atlantic and Just Us! Coffee Roasters Co-operative were the big winners at the Maritime Business Ethics Awards held in Halifax on November 3. A crowd of approximately 250 of the region’s business leaders burst into spontaneous applause when Just Us!, based in Wolfville, Nova Scotia won the award for businesses with between 26 and 99 employees, and then, in the final award of the evening, Co-op Atlantic was announced the winner for businesses with more than 100 employees. Co-op Atlantic board member and 2nd vice president Norma Tomiczek accepted the award on behalf of the co-operative. She thanked the judges on behalf of Co-op Atlantic’s board, staff and members for their recognition of Co-op Atlantic’s adherence to co-op values and principles. The team of judges consisted of: Mayann Francis, Executive Director of the NS Human Rights Commission; Ken Ozman, President Vice Chancellor of Mount Allison University; Mark Surette, President of Robertson Surette Ltd.; Rev. Eric Beresford, President of the Atlantic School of Theology; and Don Wagner, Associate Professor in the School of Business Administration at University of PEI. Other finalists in the over 100 employees category were Aliant and Ocean Nutrition. In introducing the award, the announcer cited Co-op Atlantic’s commitment to sustaining and growing the region’s food production sector by supporting every stage of the food production cycle.         Here are some examples of how Co-op Atlantic has consistently exhibited outstanding ethical and business practices: Responsibility Co-op Atlantic considers its responsibility to its members and their communities with every business decision. For example, when assessing support for a member retail store going through difficult times, more than just the bottom line comes into consideration. When the store in Sackville, NB was in financial trouble during the late 1990s, the easiest move would have been to withdraw our support, which would in essence close the store. Instead, we worked with the local board of directors and the community to create a plan to help bring the store back to profitability over time. Co-op Atlantic believes it is their responsibility to do everything in their power to support communities that wish to operate a co-operative alternative. In another example, Co-op Atlantic recently traded land with the City of Moncton, on the agreement that this acquired land would be developed. On being informed of this business transaction, some community and environmental groups raised concerns. Co-op Atlantic saw a responsibility to the community to ensure comfort with the project, and has created a multi-stakeholder group to look at how interested parties can be satisfied. This consultative approach reflects our broad definition of responsibility beyond simply getting the most economic return possible. As a co-operative, a successful business means helping a community meet its needs in a financially sustainable manner. Sustainability Co-op Atlantic believes that for our region to maintain its economic, environmental and social health, it is essential that we grow and raise as much food here as possible, using ecologically sound methods. Co-op is the only food business that works with producers at all stages of the food cycle, from selling producers the inputs they need to produce food, consulting with them on optimum practices, to buying their wares through our wholesale operations, to offering them to the network’s member-consumers through their retail network. Their reciprocal relationship of buying and selling from these producers helps ensure the continued health of the region’s agriculture sector. There are many examples of how this takes place. At our web site www.atlanticproduced.coop you can meet more than 130 producers who buy from and sell to Co-op Atlantic. Co-op Atlantic and our network of stores are virtually the last independent food retailers in the region. We were born here, and make decisions based on what is for the best for our region, and retain money and employment in Atlantic Canada. Other examples of our initiatives include our investment in the Beef Plant in PEI, and the creation of unique Atlantic Products like the Grand Prix Award winning Pumpkin Pecan Krunch Pie, the new Rochdale potato, and more. Here is another example. Several years ago, it was recognized that the potato crop on some PEI farms was damaging the soil, and barley was recommended for cross-cropping to help replenish the soil. This was a difficult option for the producers, however, as there was no market available for Atlantic barley. Co-op Atlantic worked with the industry to help establish a viable market for this new crop, which allowed producers to move to a less chemically intensive process – a positive development both financially and ecologically. Dealing with ethical problems As befits their co-operative nature, Co-op Atlantic takes a consultative, inclusive approach to dealing with ethical problems. As in the example of the development concerns in Moncton, they refuse to take a high–handed approach to the concerns of others. One of Co-op Atlantic’s biggest ethical challenges is the industry trend towards shunning Atlantic producers and buying as much product as possible from outside the region, where it is often available at lower prices. Co-op Atlantic has taken the decision that although some goods may be available cheaper, by not supporting the Atlantic economy by buying here they would be turning their backs on their members. They have made the decision instead to invest more in the Atlantic economy, as with the Beef Plant and the Rochdale Gold potato, not only because they believe that this is in the best long-term interest of our region and their members, but because to abandon these producers would be unfair to all involved. Ethical initiatives or programs Co-op Atlantic’s “Great food begins here” approach to supporting Atlantic producers is the cornerstone of our ethical approach. 80 per cent of the meat in Co-op stores and 40 per cent of the produce comes from Atlantic producers. Co-op Atlantic believes that by taking a stand in support of our region, everyone gains. Co-op Atlantic is not only supporting the local economy through our policies, but also challenging the rest of the region to follow them by aggressively promoting the benefits of buying Atlantic. We have gained recognition for this leadership role and are becoming identified as the leaders in supporting Atlantic food producers, a position we intend to maintain.