Thunder Bay Co-operative Farm Supplies has seen strong growth since its expansion and renovations three years ago. But it’s not just farms that are driving growth. The Co-op is open to the public as well to create what Darren Fisk, general manager of the Co-op, calls a “convenience hardware store” serving area residents.
The storefront is located southwest of Thunder Bay on the corner of Boundary Drive and Highway 61, about a 30-minute drive from Intercity Shopping Centre in the middle of town.
“There has always been a small retail store, but we expanded our retail operation to about 2,200 square feet as a convenience to the local public,” Fisk said. “We’re not going to carry everything, but it will save those people that one trip to town.”
The Co-op also stocks items you may not find elsewhere including specialized hardware specific to farming operations and 55-pound bags of fertilizer mixed on site for “cheaper than you’ll get at Canadian Tire,” Fisk said.
The local fertilizer uses ingredients shipped from Saskatchewan and Minnesota and can be customized including mixes for lawns, he said. One-ton bags are also available to area farmers along with a direct-fill option for spreaders.
“If you come here in spring, you’ll see a lineup of tractors getting their fertilizer for the crops,” Fisk said.
Metal roofing is another growing segment for the company attracting builders from in and around Thunder Bay. One of the main advantages Thunder Bay Co-op has over competitors is that they can stock a wide range of colours and options.
Fisk said that they also have a metal roof specialist in the store to help customers through the planning and design process, and a roster of reliable contractors to help with installation.
“We are one of the top if not the top metal roofing retailers in Northern Ontario,” Fisk said. “We get good pricing because of the volume we do, and we’re top of mind for people in Thunder Bay.”
In all, the general public represents about 35 to 40 per cent of sales, Fisk said. Since renovations, Thunder Bay Co-op won a 2024 Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence “Looking Good” Award for its expansion and renovation efforts.
Thunder Bay Co-op Farm Supplies launched in 1952 as a co-operative for local farmers to buy in bulk to reduce individual costs — and the store remains close to its roots. It is still farmer-owned today, and new members with a registered farm business number can apply to join.
The expansion included a meeting room called the Community Hub where area businesses and organizations — mostly farm-related, Fisk said — can meet. Proceeds from the retail store are also shared with the Co-op members.
Fisk said that membership is trending upwards again as the number of hobby farms in the area
increases. It’s a trend he’d like to see continue.
“You’re definitely seeing a growing interest in the smaller hobby farms,” Fisk said. “A lot come from southern Ontario because the land is affordable. I think long-term, you’ll see a shift to the northern climates more large-scale agriculture. Definitely in northeastern Ontario, that’s been the case.
“Certainly from a long-term strategic point of view, the government should free up more land for farms. We do have a good climate for many things … and long growing days.”
The largest farms in the area are still the dairy farms, Fisk said. Those farms could be at risk if Canada’s dairy supply management system gets put on the table during the next negotiations under the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA).
Fisk stated that he can’t speak for people like the dairy farmers. But he said from his perspective, there are “concerns” about a possible U.S. trade war.
“My position is that if we don’t protect the farmers, they may not exist,” he said. “I view it more of a food security issue. If you don’t have farms, who’s going to grow your food?”
On the other hand, counter-tariffs could have serious impacts on local farmers, Fisk said. Many of Thunder Bay Co-op’s suppliers are in the States — the company has focused on “Buy North America” for the most part.
“Most of the concern would be the retaliatory tariffs,” he said, which would potentially drive prices up on imported goods.
