TORONTO—Jamie Nelson, Chair of Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers (CFIG), Thomas Shurrie, President and CEO, and the CFIG Board of Directors are pleased to announce Dan Bregg, Larry Chmielewski, and Ian Dickson as recipients of the CFIG Life Member designation as Industry Builders and Scott Mitchell, Market Street Vulcan, Life Member Award in the Independent Grocer category..
Since 1927, Associated Grocers has promoted itself as the home of the Independent Retailer in Western Canada. And for decades, Dan Bregg, Larry Chmielewski and Ian Dickson have been welcoming western grocers and suppliers into that home and helping them grow and prosper.
Dan Bregg grew up in Surrey, BC, and got an early start in the food business in his family’s restaurant. For over 37 years now, he has been at Buy-Low Foods/Associated Grocers. After getting his accounting degree, he was offered a position at Buy-Low Foods, where he rose to VP Finance. After Jimmy Pattison bought the company, Dan began to handle acquisitions. And today Dan is President, Pattison Food Group Wholesale, and he serves on the Board of CFIG as Past Chair.
Larry Chmielewski got bitten by the grocery bug bagging groceries at Safety Mart #1 in Kamloops, BC.
A few years later he moved to the wholesale side at Consolidated Grocers, and when the company was purchased by Associated Grocers, Larry moved to Alberta, becoming Sales Manager, and then Director of Sales. Larry ended his 35-years with AG as Vice President Sales.
Ian Dickson spent most of his early years in Burnaby, BC, and credits his father, Charlie Dickson who worked at Associated Grocers, for getting him interested in the wholesale business. And in 1985, Ian was hired by Steve Vanderleest to join Charlie and the AG Sales & Marketing/Merchandising Team.
That started a career with Associated Grocers that lasted 38 years, until Ian retired as Vice President Strategic Growth Initiatives.
Under the leadership of Dan, Ian and Larry, Associated Grocers has built strong relationships with their retailers. Throughout their careers at Associated Grocers, Dan, Ian and Larry have shared the common belief that CFIG is important to AG member stores. They were instrumental in the creation of the first Grocery Showcase West (now known as Grocery & Specialty Food West).
Ian says their retailers always appreciate the networking, learning opportunities and benefits CFIG membership has provided. Dan believes that CFIG’s advocacy on behalf of Independents has never been more important than it is today. Larry adds, “Associated Grocers works with retailers to grow their businesses, and that grows our business.”
Scott Mitchell’s retail career started before he was born, when his grandfather, John Mitchell purchased a local pharmacy on Centre Street in Vulcan in 1941. By 1987, Scott decided to go into the food business, and construction began on a new grocery store in Vulcan, First Street Foods. The new store opened under the Associated Grocers banner On May 11, 1988. Scott thanks Don Larkins and his team for their help getting him started. In 2003, Scott switched to The Grocery People, and with their support, embarked on a two-year expansion combining the family pharmacy and food store: Market Street Vulcan.
He became a strong supporter of CFIG, and in 2013, served as board Chair. Scott credits Ian Dickson, Larry Chmielewski and Dan Bregg for bringing the store back into the Associate Grocers family in 2016.
Scott says he is committed to bringing wellness into the food equation and meeting the challenge of the consolidation of the pharmacy and grocery industry.
Scott’s commitment to his community includes being the founder and Trustee of the Vulcan County Health and Wellness Foundation. He spearheaded the Foundation’s drive for donations to finance a modern expansion to the Vulcan Community Health Centre which opened in 2020. It includes a state-of-the-art Medical Clinic, and Wellness Community Spaces.
CFIG’s Life Member designation honours those individuals who have made a significant contribution to the food industry. Their experience, accomplishments and commitment are at the foundation of today’s grocery retailing business.
All four recipients will be officially recognized at the dinner gala at Grocery & Specialty Food West event on Monday, April 22. Get your tickets: www.GSFShow.com
The Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers (CFIG) — CFIG is a non-profit trade association founded in 1962, which continues to be a collaborative community, equipping and enabling independent, franchised and specialty grocers for sustainable success. CFIG is the strong and united voice for the independent grocery retailers to Industry and Government across Canada. CFIG also provides programs that support operational excellence while fostering solid relationships among retailers, distributors and suppliers. www.cfig.ca
© 2024 Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers
