In April, the Crowfoot Co-op – which has been around since 1984 – started an extensive makeover. Renovations that normally take businesses between 12 and 18 months took the Crowfoot Co-op just under five months. And the result is impressive. New products can be purchased and elements of the store have been updated, but the feeling of shopping at a Co-op remains.
Here are 12 things we love about the Crowfoot Co-op.
Fresh Roasted Coffee
Crowfoot Co-op roasts all its own coffee beans, from green to brown, right in front of you. The freshly roasted beans can be purchased in bulk or you can buy a hot latte to sip as you shop.
Perfect Pork
Co-op’s perfect pork is just that: perfect. The pigs are open-pen raised and are not injected with any hormones. The result is tender, juicy meat that could give steak a run for its money. Perfect pork is sold exclusively at Co-op.
The Fresh-To-Go Menu
Executive chef John Humphreys has designed a delicious Fresh-To-Go meal offering that’s entirely new to this location. Ready-to-serve dinner solutions include full rotisserie chickens, prime rib and fish and chips, all with two sides and costing a maximum of $10.
Authentic Curry at the Self-Serve Curry Bar
Co-op’s CEO Deane Collinson has admitted to eating lunch from here every day. Butter chicken, chicken vindaloo and Indian chickpea stews (chana masala) are made fresh and paired with basmati rice and naan. It’s restaurant quality, but at a grocery store price.
Fresh Picked Local Produce
Co-op focuses on having the freshest produce and imports products based on quality and availability. Some of their produce is exclusive to Calgary Co-op, such as the pesticide-free tomatoes from Paradise Hill Farm, which is based in Nanton, Alberta. Now that’s fresh.
Traditional Dry Aged Beef
Brand new to the Crowfoot Co-op store is traditional dry-aged beef. Hanging in clear view so customers can see the process, all beef is aged for a minimum of 28 days. According to Co-op’s CEO, this is what men really want for Father’s Day.
The World Food Selection
Have trouble finding those tostadas? Or the right spices to flavour that curry? Crowfoot Co-op’s world food section is bigger and more varied than before, making it easier for you to re-live that trip to India, at least on a culinary level.
Cronuts
The donut-croissant hybrid has finally made its way to Calgary. And here they’re baked fresh each day. Enough said.
Spolumbo’s Sausages
Heading to Spolumbo’s Inglewood location isn’t convenient for everyone, but anyone can enjoy its sausages now that the Crowfoot Co-op sells all its varieties. Our favourite: the chicken blueberry.
The Choice of Products
It doesn’t matter if you prefer your food organic, gluten-free, Halal, antibiotics-free or free-range: Co-op has it all.
Lazio-Style Pizzas
Forget Pizza Hut and Boston Pizza. Authentic Italian pizzas are made fresh daily here. The pizzas are traditional in size (Lazio pizzas are two feet long and six inches wide, not round) and use traditional sauce (just tomatoes, sea salt and olive oil). Buy a slice for lunch ($3.99) or a whole pizza to share for dinner ($14.99).
The Whole Co-op Experience
Supporting local producers, choosing the products you want and not breaking the bank is all part of the Co-op experience. And a makeover doesn’t change that one bit.
Crowfoot Co-op is located at 35 Crowfoot Way N.W., 403-299-5353, calgarycoop.com, @calgarycoop
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