La Coop fédérée Joins Forces with Standard Nutrition Canada

MONTRÉAL, April 24, 2018 - La Coop fédérée, an agri-food cooperative with operations across Canada, announced today that it has reached an agreement with Standard Nutrition Canada (SNC), a Winnipeg-based company offering animal nutrition products and services, to integrate their activities into Western provinces. Thus, they will become one of the most prominent players in the 4-billion-dollar Canadian industry.

Through this deal, La Coop fédérée's agri-business division will extend its animal nutrition activities that are already well established in Québec and the Maritimes. The division is also already present in Western Canada, in the crop production sector through its network of Agrico retailers, while La Coop fédérée's meat processing division Olymel is active in swine production in Alberta and Saskatchewan through its subsidiary Olysky and in Alberta through its pork processing activities. U.S.-based Standard Nutrition assets and activities are excluded from the transaction.  

The conditions of the sale will not be disclosed. The transaction is final and all operations are now integrated within the livestock production sector, of La Coop fédérée's Agri-business Division.  

"For the past decade, working under the Standard Nutrition USA umbrella has allowed our company to become an integral part of the Western Canadian protein supply chain, recognized for its extremely high-touch, consultative sales approach that leverages the technical and operational expertise of our best-in-class team of nutrition consultants" explains Jason McNaughton, president and general manager of Standard Nutrition Canada. "Partnering with La Coop fédérée, a true Canadian Ag Industry powerhouse, is now the occasion to kick-start our growth plan for the decade to come, with the mutual goal of supporting Canadian agricultural producers," he adds.

"Standard Nutrition's top-of-the-line products and service are at par with our high standards in terms of quality and customer relationship. We also share the same values when it comes to responsibility and solidarity toward the producers that we serve, in order to tailor our service to their needs. Furthermore, their strong presence in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba makes them a partner of choice to pursue our growth plan in Canada. We believe that by combining the findings from our world-class research program to Standard Nutrition's personalized approach and highest level of expertise, we will deliver even more value and innovation to our customers," adds Sébastien Léveillé, executive agri-business vice-president of La Coop fédérée. 

The transition will be seamless for current Standard Nutrition Canada customers as key management and sales teams will remain in position. 

Establishments included in the sale are:

• Feed processing and grain-handling facilities and retail store in Winnipeg, Manitoba
• Retail store and warehouse in Brandon, Manitoba
• Premix facility, warehouse and retail store in Lethbridge, Alberta
• Retail stores, offices and warehouses in Red Deer, AB, and Swiftcurrent, SK.

Lazard Middle Market acted as the exclusive financial advisor to Standard Nutrition Canada.

About La Coop fédérée 

Founded in 1922, La Coop fédérée is the largest agri-food organization in Quebec and the 24th largest in the world. It represents more than 60,000 members grouped into close to 70 cooperatives in multiple Canadian provinces. La Coop fédérée employs more than 13,000 employees and has combined sales of $9.2 billion. Its activities are divided into three divisions: Olymel S.E.C (under the Olymel, Flamingo and Lafleur banners, the Agri-business division (under the La Coop, Élite, Agrocentre, Agrico and Agromart banners) and the BMR Group (under the BMR, Unimat and Potvin & Bouchard banners). For more information, please visit: www.lacoop.coop. Twitter account: @LaCoop_federee.

About Standard Nutrition Canada

Headquartered in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Standard Nutrition Canada focuses on assisting livestock and poultry producers in all three Prairie Provinces.  Through locations in Winnipeg, MB, Brandon, MB, Swift Current, Sk, Lethbridge, AB and Red Deer, AB our team of nutrition consultants, veterinarians and animal production specialist provide high level consultative and product solutions for our production clientele.  The company was formed in 2004 after the amalgamation of Standard Nutrition US's Canadian operations and Max Pro Feeds Ltd of Winnipeg, MB.  Since that time the company has successfully grown into a major player within the Western Canadian industry.  Standard Nutrition Canada currently employs just over 70 people in the three Provinces, a large number of these residing at our largest feed manufacturing facility and home office in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

SOURCE La Coop fédérée 

For further information:
Source: La Coop fédérée: Ben Marc Diendéré, senior vice-president, communications, public affairs and brand image;
Standard Nutrition: Jason McNaughton, president/general manager;

Media contact:
Virginie Barbeau, La Coop fédérée, 514-384-6450 ext. 3332, virginie.barbeau@lacoop.coop;
Jason McNaughton, Standard Nutrition Canada, 204-954-3200, jmcnaughton@standardnutrition.com