Det’on Cho Management has acquired local food distributor Northbest Distributors Limited.
Northbest is a full-line food-service industry distributor, since 1999 supplying food to stores, restaurants, mining camps, and institutions across the territory.
Det’on Cho was honoured in late May at the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business’s 40th Anniversary Gala Dinner in Toronto. President and CEO Mark Lewis and team members were present in Toronto to accept the award. (Photo courtesy of Det’on Cho.)
Mark Lewis is president and CEO of Det’on Cho Management, the ever-growing financial arm of the Yellowknives Dene First Nation.
“One of our strategies right now is kind of a diversification, as we all know, the diamond mines are getting close to their sunset.
“So, a lot of our revenue now and historically has been tied to the diamond mine. So, it’s looking at different industries, different opportunities, but also ones that fit kind of into our current model,” he told CKLB.
“So, for this one, again, there is ties to the mining industry, but it’s not fully dependent on it. And when we look at it, we have a catering business (Det’on Cho Bouwa Whee Catering LP), so we know that the food side from the buying but also the other part of this is basically logistics is moving food into the north.”
Lewis said no layoffs are expected at Det’on Cho Northbest Distributors, as “our plan is never to go in and to shake things up,” and the Northbest team will continue to operate from its facility on Old Airport Road.
