UFA store from the UFA website

By Curtis Galbraith

UFA keeps employees working through COVID-19 pandemic

Jan 8, 2021 | 2:15 PM

GRANDE PRAIRIE, AB. — The pandemic has forced many companies to cut back and lay off employees. However, that isn’t the case with UFA, which paid workers at its Farm and Ranch Stores and Petroleum locations a bonus in early December.

President and CEO Scott Bolton says these were deemed essential services and stayed open during the pandemic.

“Our front-line workers are the ones that go to the stores, stand behind a plexiglass barrier, wear their mask, and they do it because of their commitment to our rural communities and agriculture specifically.”

Bolton says the company made what he calls “a principled decision” to not have layoffs.

He adds after what he calls “the crisis period” during the pandemic in March and April, business picked up like UFA has never seen.

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“We’ve been very, very busy in our farm stores, which we are very grateful to have that business and support from our communities. We’ve been very fortunate in not having to resort to layoffs.”

Bolton says the latest restrictions have not only limited the number of customers stores can hold but hastened the introduction of an e-commerce platform. It was brought online in mid-December. The original plan was to have it going in 2021.

Bolton also says he has some worries given how things are in the oilpatch and with grain prices and backlogs at feedlots.

He adds any CEO would be concerned about uncertainty but adds there are signs of optimism.

“The price of oil has come back. We’re nearing $50 (a barrel) again. Compared to where we were six months ago, that is pretty good. On the other hand, we lived through the crisis at the feedlots and the packing plant challenges and that could happen again, or the general economy could take a turn for worse. There are so many ways this can go.”

Bolton says all anyone can do is to plan for what he calls “every eventuality” and be ready to adapt quickly.