More on the Co-operative

Sales have grown steadily over the years as have assets and shareholder equity. Gay Lea Foods operates processing facilities in Guelph, Teeswater, Ivanhoe and Toronto which manufacture a wide variety of dairy products including: award winning butter, skim milk powder, cottage cheese, sour cream, dips, aerosol whips, cream, milk and cheese. We are continually introducing new products, including our spreadable butter blend and award winning single serve cottage cheese. Our product line serves retail, industrial and food service markets, primarily in Ontario.

To become a producer member of Gay Lea Foods Co-operative Ltd., a person must be a shareholder or a family member in a farm operation licensed to produce milk in Ontario, they must be of legal voting age (18 years), and they must commit to purchasing a minimum investment in member producer shares based on annual milk production. Currently the minimum investment level is set at 3 member producer shares per 1,000 litres of milk production shipped to DFO. As a new producer member of Gay Lea, you would be required to purchase up-front a minimum of 10% of your estimated share requirement. The remaining balance of your shares are purchased through an assignment with DFO. The assignment will authorize a minimum of 1% of your gross milk cheque to be retained and sent to Gay Lea Foods Co-operative Ltd. to purchase shares in your name. The current par value of a Gay Lea share is $17/share. If shares are bought through retains, it will take approximately 4-5 years to purchase the required number of shares. Your return on investment will be comprised of patronage earned on your total milk production.

To become an investor member of Gay Lea Foods Co-operative Ltd., a person must purchase a minimum of 100 shares at a cost of $17/share. Investor members must reside in the province of Ontario. Returns on investor shares will be paid out on a yearly basis as declared by the Board and may be re-invested into investor shares. Investor shares can be purchased by, or in the name of, any indiviual (of any age). The Board of Directors determines the number of investor shares sold on an annual basis.

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