Mountain Equipment Co-op (now called 1077 Holdings Co-Operative) is a Canadian co-op that started the MEC outdoor gear retail brand….Mountain Equipment Co-op.

Is MEC still Canadian?

Mountain Equipment Co-op (now called 1077 Holdings Co-Operative) is a Canadian co-op that started the MEC outdoor gear retail brand….Mountain Equipment Co-op.

Type Cooperative
Founded 1971 in Vancouver, British Columbia
Fate No longer operating; brand name and assets were acquired by Mountain Equipment Company

What does MEC Canada stand for?

Mountain Equipment Company
Mountain Equipment Company, or MEC, is a chain of Canadian retail stores that sell outdoor recreation gear, formed from the assets of the defunct retail co-operative Mountain Equipment Co-op.

Who owns MEC now?

Kingswood Capital Management
Welcome to the Tyee’s 2021 Impact Report This is what private investment firm Kingswood Capital Management acquired when it bought Canadian retailer Mountain Equipment Co-op.

Is MEC in financial trouble?

To illustrate, net operating losses of MEC are $80 million for the period since 2017. The issues arising from increased costs, debt load, and liquidity strains continued into 2020, as evident in the fiscal year ending Feb. 23, 2020 – MEC experienced a net loss of approximately $22.7 million.

Are MEC and REI the same company?

MEC was originally the brainchild of six Vancouver mountaineers who started in the 1970s making small, cross-border runs to outdoor equipment retailer REI, whose co-operative structure MEC shares.

Is MEC like REI?

Why was MEC sold?

Another member said, “This sell out is a result of MECs board losing sight of the co-operative values, pivoting to a typical retailer and urban outfitter. Things started going downhill when they switched to MEC brand from Mountain Equipment Co-op.

What has happened to MEC?

MEC to lay off fewer employees than planned, with 1 store to close, new owners say. The Vancouver-based retailer says 85 per cent of its active workforce will remain on the job once the sale to a U.S. private investment firm closes.

How many MEC stores are there in Canada?

21 stores
MEC now operates 21 stores in Canada. Of those, five are in British Columbia, three are in Alberta, one is in Manitoba, one in Nova Scotia, five are in Quebec, and six are in Ontario.

Who is buying MEC?

Kingswood Capital Management, LP
VANCOUVER, BC, Oct. 30, 2020 /CNW/ – Kingswood Capital Management, LP (together with its affiliates, “Kingswood”) announced today that it has completed its acquisition of substantially all of MEC’s assets through the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act.

Why MEC failed?

MEC’s slide arguably started in 2012, when it dropped the word “co-op” from its marketing and adopted a rule to disqualify board of director candidates that the board felt weren’t up to the job. Today, only one of the bios for MEC’s board makes an implicit reference to co-operative experience.

Where are MEC stores located?

They accomplish this by selling outdoor gear, clothing and services. MEC’s head office and telephone service centre were located in Vancouver. Its distribution centres were located in Brampton, Ontario and Surrey, British Columbia .

Is MEC a Canadian brand?

For the retail brand now owned by US private investors, see MEC Canada. Mountain Equipment Co-op (now called 1077 Holdings Co-Operative) is a Canadian co-op that started the MEC outdoor gear retail brand.

What is MEC known for?

Since its founding in Vancouver, British Columbia in 1971, MEC has expanded across Canada and now operates stores in 20 cities. Once catering to mountaineers and climbers, MEC now targets a broader, more urban clientele and is largely focused on clothing, cycling and yoga supplies.

What are the reviews of MEC jackets?

4.4 out of 5 stars with 34 reviews for MEC Confidante Insulated Jacket – Women’s. Read reviews 3.7 out of 5 stars with 3 reviews for MEC Peak Comfort AirGrid Warm 1/4 Zip Base Layer – Women’s. Read reviews 5 out of 5 stars with 2 reviews for MEC Peak Comfort AirGrid Warm Long Sleeve Baselayer – Men’s. Read reviews