Founded as Maritime Livestock Board in 1927 and incorporated as Maritime Co-operative Services Ltd. On June 29, 1944, the co-operative federation and wholesaler changed its name to Co-op Atlantic in 1977. Co-op Atlantic provided food, agricultural, energy and social housing/real estate services to organizations and businesses in communities in the Atlantic region until 2016, when it exited these businesses.

Co-op Atlantic has changed its name to Atlantic Retail Co-operatives Federation