LAKELAND - While the world watches the situation unfold in Ukraine, some Lakeland businesses have taken steps to pull Russian-made products from their shelves, as a way to denounce the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
On Feb. 28, Cornerstone Co-op first announced it would be pulling products of Russian origin from its shelves. When asked about the move, Kory Kralka, director of operations with Cornerstone Co-operative, shared a few thoughts.
"We felt compelled to make a statement that we decline to do business and support the economy of a country when our values do not align to their actions at a global level," said Kralka.
Cornerstone Co-op operates food stores in St. Paul, Elk Point, Wainwright, Vermilion, Mannville, and Dewberry, along with liquor stores, card lock locations, gas bars and home and agro centres throughout the region.
Before taking steps to remove the Russian product, Cornerstone Co-op made sure the impact would not be felt on essential products for customers.
"Some of our member-owners reached out to us immediately after Russian occupation started, asking how the Co-op could show support of Ukraine," said Kralka. "We felt this was the right move and followed the lead of some other retail organizations."
He noted the decision "was not a political move, but rather a social and economic decision."
Work is still being done to determine which products may be pulled from shelves.
"In food stores, we have asked our wholesale vendors for origin tracing of what exactly is produced and sourced from Russia," but that information is still not all gathered.
"The largest food import to Canada is sunflower oils. However as of today, we haven’t verified any product we carry that has been manufactured there," explained Kralka, on Friday.
As for liquor products, there are three brands of vodka that have been pulled from shelves and isolated.
And while Russian products are being set aside, efforts to encourage the purchase of Ukrainian-made products are also taking place.
"We currently have one or two brands of Ukrainian vodka and some wines that we always carried, but are promoting them with some 'made in Ukraine' labels to clearly identify them," said Kralka.
