Pembina Coop has decided to close the hardware store at the Minto site.

The store is expected to close by early December after losing money over the past several years.

Manager Terry Campbell says it was a board decision and one management didn’t take lightly. “We made a decision to exit the hardware division here at Minto and the last couple of weeks we’ve had inventory reduced as we work to clear out stock.”

“We’ll assess at the end of this week how much stock we have left and take measures to move that stuff out next week. It’ll go to another location or possibly an auction.”

Campbell says the hardware business in Minto just isn’t sustainable and was losing money on a yearly basis.

“It’s a tough thing for Minto as a community but I think financially and sustainably it was the right thing to do.”

While the hardware store is shutting down the Coop has no plans to do the same with the agriculture and fuel divisions that operate out of Minto. “Since joining Pembina Coop we’ve done nothing but add to those services in the agro division. We added a brand new fertilizer plant, chem sheds and over the last year we added a brand new fuel truck to our location.”

Campbell says in those divisions the Coop can compete and make money but that wasn’t the case with the hardware.

“Sales a profitability in the hardware division have been dropping over the past number of years. We went to the membership announcing this decision and it was based on an analysis done over the past five years. Each year the hardware was a losing proposition.

As for existing staff Campbell says nobody will lose their job. He says they’ll be reassigned but will still have a job.

“The ag. and fuel sectors remain strong for our site. One of the things we’ll be adding shortly is a card lock to our gas offer. We presently have a pump that operates from 8:30 to 5:30 out front for the public and that will change to a card lock offering clear and purple gas.”

Terry Campbell says some of the assets are being redeployed to the card lock and he expects there will be additions and changes to the agriculture, chemical and seed departments.