In July 1945, 17 members paid PLN 1,000 each (in old zlotys), and this led to the establishment of the “PIONIER” Consumers’ Cooperative in Bolesławiec. One grocery store was opened, where the primary task was distributing UNRA packages. In 1948, the three cooperatives operating in the city merged UNDER THE COMMON NAME “HUTNIK,” which already had 1,000 members. 1/ “PIONIER” Consumers’ Cooperative – with 12 retail outlets 2/ “DOLNOŚLĄZAK” Cooperative – with 5 outlets 3/ “KOLEJOWA” Cooperative – with 1 store
Józef ŁACINA became the first president, and Antoni Dziugieł became chairman of the council.
By 1970, the Cooperative was celebrating its 25th anniversary and had built up an impressive record! It had a large network of retail, production and service outlets, and the number of members had risen to 5,800!
In 1977, “Społem” had 80 stores, 35 catering establishments, 9 workplace cafeterias, 4 production plants and a food wholesaling operation, and employed more than 1,000 people!! It was among the largest employers in Bolesławiec.
In July 1982, the Cooperative gained economic independence and, one might say, was born for the second time.
In 1983, trade was reorganized once again. As a result, the State Food Wholesale Enterprise was separated from “Społem,” and our Cooperative transferred 17 grocery stores and its machinery base to PHS.
In return, it regained 5 non-food stores. Our Cooperative went through difficult years and struggled with numerous problems; inflation and the transition to a market economy all affected its operations.
In 1994, a long-awaited amendment to the Cooperative Law brought renewed activity. The legal provisions confirmed to Cooperative members that they were the rightful co-owners of the cooperative assets—that the fate of the cooperative was genuinely in the hands of its members and employees, and that its future depended on skillful management, responsibility for decisions and the accumulation of adequate capital.
Presidents of the “SPOŁEM” Consumers’ Cooperative since 1945 – Józef Łacina, Edward Sobczyński, Jakub Feldman, Janina Zamaro, Czesław Starostecki, Roman Pawłowski, Ludwik Zmuda, Józef Słabicki, Bogusława Samoszyńska since 1987.
Chairmen of the Supervisory Boards since 1945 – Antoni Dziugieł, Jan Tatargan, Jan Gruchman, Franciszek Terlecki, Stanisław Wasilewski, Antoni Skop, Edward Kowalczyk, Stanisław Osten, Edward Mazgaj, Zdzisław Krzemiński, Jan Lisiewicz, Piotr Hetel, Czesław Witczak, Bronisław Kodor, Mieczysław Arendarczyk, Bolesław Kwiatkowski and, since 1994, Jadwiga Bielecka.
The Cooperative’s oldest members:
– Mieczysław Arendarczyk and Bolesław Kwiatkowski since 1948
– Jadwiga Gołąb since May 27, 1950
– Tadeusz Bałacki and Antoni Skolesiński since 1959 (employees). In the 1990s, PSS in Bolesławiec changed from a large monopolistic trading enterprise into a medium-sized private entity, operating in 1955 in:
– 24 stores, 2 wholesale warehouses, 4 catering establishments, 1 bakery, 1 confectionery, 1 carbonated-water plant and 1 marketplace; it also rented some unused rooms in its own facilities to private individuals.
There are currently 245 employees. We are continually improving working conditions and becoming an equal partner in today’s competitive market.