History

CRS Workers’ Co-op is incorporated, including 3 businesses:

• CRS Brokerage (est 1973) – a natural foods wholesaler operating out of 1,000 sq ft basement space in Vancouver, BC
• Uprising Breads Bakery (est 1975) – a natural ingredients and whole grains bakery on Venables Street in Vancouver, BC
• Tunnel Canary Cannery (est 1975) – a fruit processing and marketing business operating out of the same space as CRS Brokerage

CRS Brokerage and Tunnel Canary Cannery move to 4,500 sq ft warehouse in Vancouver, BC.

CRS Brokerage changes name to CRS Wholesale Distributor and moves to 12,000 sq ft warehouse on Odlum Drive in Vancouver, BC.

Tunnel Canary is closed.

CRS Wholesale Distributor changes name to Horizon Distributors and moves to 36,000 sq ft warehouse on Vanness Street in Vancouver, BC.

Horizon moves to 56,000 sq ft warehouse on Winston Street in Burnaby, BC.

Revenue for CRS Workers’ Co-op is $13.0 million.

Horizon expands use of Winston Street warehouse space from 56,000 sq ft to 83,000 sq ft.

CRS Workers’ Co-op sells majority control to Eclipse Holdings (a privately held Canadian firm) and Renewal Partners Ventures, a social venture capital investment company.

Ron Francisco, President and majority shareholder of Eclipse Holdings becomes President of CRS Workers’ Holdings Ltd., overseeing Horizon Distributors and Uprising Breads Bakery.

CRS Workers’ Co-op is wound down.

Remaining assets are donated to CCEC Credit Union in Vancouver to support future co-op development work.

Uprising Breads Bakery is sold to Don McGinn, a long-time member of CRS Workers’ Co-op.

Horizon acquires:

• PSC Natural Foods, a natural foods distributor in Victoria, BC.
• Christmas Natural Foods, a natural products distributor of personal care and supplements located in Surrey, BC.

Horizon acquires:

• Anke Kruse Organics, an importer/exporter of organic products from Germany, with operations based in Guelph, Ontario.
• Corwin Distribution, a natural products distributor of personal care, supplements and dry goods located in Concord, Ontario.

Christmas Natural moves from Surrey, BC to share Horizon warehouse on Winston Street in Burnaby, BC.

Revenue for Horizon Group of Companies is $53.0 million.

Horizon acquires:

• Directa Distribution, a natural products distributor of personal care, supplements and dry goods located in Pointe-Claire, Quebec.

Anke Kruse Organics changes name to Organic Horizons.

PSC Natural Foods, moves into 50,800 sq ft facility on Jacklin Road, Victoria, BC.

Horizon acquires:

• Tara Natural, a natural products distributor of personal care, supplements and dry goods located in Richmond, BC.

Horizon moves to 150,000 sq ft built-to-suit facility on Trapp Avenue, Burnaby BC.

• Includes 24,000 sq ft of temperature-controlled cooler and freezer space.
• Christmas Natural and Tara Natural move into the Trapp Avenue facility shared with Horizon.

Corwin Distribution moves from 17,600 sq ft to 39,000 sq ft on Locke Street in Vaughan, ON.

Organic Horizons moves operations from Guelph, ON into the Corwin facility in Vaughan, ON.

Tara Natural operations are folded into Christmas Natural and Tara Natural, the company, is wound down.

Christmas Natural Foods changes name to Christmas Natural Products.

Revenue for Horizon Group of Companies is $150.0 million.

Horizon Group of Companies (2014)

• Horizon Distributors, Burnaby, BC
• Christmas Natural Products, Burnaby, BC
• PSC Natural Foods, Victoria, BC
• Corwin Distribution, Vaughan, ON
• Organic Horizons, Vaughan, ON
• Directa Distribution, Pointe-Claire, QC

Horizon acquires:

• Planet Foods, a natural foods distributor in Calgary, Alberta.

Horizon acquires:

• Ontario Natural Foods Company (formerly Ontario Natural Foods Co-op), a natural foods distributor in Mississauga, Ontario.

Christmas Natural Products merges with Horizon Distributors to become Horizon Grocery + Wellness

Corwin Distribution merges with Ontario Natural Food Company to become ONFC Grocery + Wellness

Directa business wound down after 16 years of operation with the Horizon Group.

Revenue for Horizon Group of Companies is $250.0 million.

Horizon Group of Companies (2021)

• Horizon Grocery + Wellness, Burnaby, BC
• ONFC Grocery + Wellness, Mississauga, ON
• PSC Natural Foods, Victoria, BC
• Planet Foods, Calgary, AB