Introducing the Kootenay Co-op’s new general manager — Allan Broom

When you see Allan Broom in a Kootenay Co-op apron, with a pin professing his new role as the store’s general manager, it’s hard to imagine him in the world of $100-million-per-year private equity finance. When reading Broom’s impressive resume in the realm of big business your first thought might be “How did the Co-op get so lucky?” But if you ask Broom it’s really he who is the fortunate one.

“I went through stages like big corporate and private equity in the past but they’re not really fulfilling,” he said. “At the end of the day you look back and go ‘that was interesting but it’s really not what I want to do’ so I’m actually quite excited about this as a chance to live where I want to live. I like to ski and be on the lake in the summertime and you get to do all that here.”

Lifestyle aside, Broom, his wife and their three-year-old daughter also decided to resettle in the Kootenays because of family. His great-grandparents first moved to Nelson in 1918 and his parents were both born in Trail and now live in Rosebery and Christina Lake, so he is no stranger to the region. In fact, despite growing up overseas and spending much of his life in other places, he has always considered the area to be home.

His new position as general manager of one of North America’s most successful health food co-operatives has begun at a trying time but one that is also filled with excitement and opportunity. In the late fall of this year the Kootenay Co-op will move into its first new home in 25 years — Nelson Commons — and Broom is relishing the chance to help guide the 13,000-member store and its 100 employees through the process.

“It’s always difficult to just go from a grocery store to doing a development but it’s a necessary step—a quantum step,” Broom said. “And to come in at that point, even though I have six months of tons of work and stress, in reality it’s really exciting.”
While Broom is looking forward to the extra space the new store will provide he is also eager to begin working life in the Commons — a term he is both knowledgeable of and passionate about.

“It’s the traditional centre of the town. It was the heart of the community and it’s a good name for the project because it’s really indicative of what we’re trying to do as a co-op. We’re trying to turn it into a place where people can get together and socialize in.”

While there has been some concern from members that the quaint, homey feeling of the current store will disappear with the move, Broom is quick to say that it’s an element they are striving to keep.

“We’re working hard as a team to make sure we keep the feel and the atmosphere of the co-op but we’ll also have three times the space, which will allow us to have more stock and improve our offerings to members,” he said. 

Broom is also quick to acknowledge the strength of the staff that were present upon his arrival, and again emphasizes the stark differences to some of his previous careers.

“I can’t imagine a more amazing place with such positive people. Everyone really believes in what they’re doing here and wants to do the best they can for the community, for the members, for each other. It’s a contrast to a lot of the places you could be.”