UGI is a National Procurement Organization. Serving our Members since 1972.  

Established in N.L. in 1934

WORKING TOGETHER = WINNING TOGETHER

Colemans

The Coleman Group of Companies is a family owned enterprise. Coleman passion for the business is intense; their quest to maintain and raise standards has energized and grown the company through four generations. Established in 1934 by Arthur James and Maggie Coleman, the first Coleman Group enterprise was opened in a former school house in Corner Brook on the west coast of Newfoundland and Labrador offering clothing, food and hardware. Business thrived, new sites were opened. Their innovative spirit, still an inspiration to all, brought the first self-service grocery store to Newfoundland. This innovation in grocery retailing in Newfoundland fueled further expansion in the 1960s and 1970s. Colemans entry into the furniture business saw the establishment of Colemans Furniture World. Major expansion occurred in 1982, when second generation Coleman executives, then leading the thriving company, purchased six retail grocery outlets spanning Newfoundland’s west coast. Insightful understanding of the developing grocery market led to the acquisition of Western Wholesale; the Coleman group could now independently procure, warehouse and distribute to its holdings. Expansion though central to eastern Newfoundland followed. Today, the Coleman Group includes 14 food, 4 furniture and 3 clothing retail operations throughout Newfoundland along with a wholesale food division. The Food Division, operating under the banner, Colemans, is the largest, fully integrated independent wholesale/retail food operation in Atlantic Canada. We have earned highly valued recognition as a successful competitor not only in the Atlantic Canada marketplace but in the wider national forum, having proudly received the prestigious distinction of being named Canada’s 50 Best Managed Companies by an independent panel of experts for the last 6 consecutive years.

A family owned company to serve all families

Michael Coleman

Executive Vice-President, Canadian Food Procurement & Marketing, Focenco Limited

Board Member

Michael Coleman is Vice President of Procurement, Wholesale and Distribution Operations at the Coleman Group. Mike joined the Company in 1976 and, since then, has occupied a number of increasingly responsible positions to his current senior executive role. His skilled leadership, grounded in rich experience, an inspiring work ethic and a fierce commitment to delivering to his team so that they can deliver to our guests, reveals his impressive command of the dynamics of the food industry; the financial metrics, category management, the criticality of the right mix of product, and, timely and reliable execution. Under Mike’s leadership, Colemans has successfully adapted to a constantly evolving marketplace. He is an experienced negotiator who well understands that forging and sustaining complex relationships are fundamental to the success of an independent enterprise.

Mike is highly respected by all with whom he interacts. His active engagement in the Canadian grocery industry is long standing. He is a past chair of the Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers, sits on the board of CFIG’s Distribution Council and is a board member of United Grocers Inc., one of Canada’s largest grocery buying groups. Mike studied Business Administration at St. Mary’s University.

Head Office

P.O. Box 340
Corner Brook, NL, A2H 6E8

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