A lifetime achievement

Country Grocer director Peter Cavin saluted as a lifetime member of the Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers

BY JENNIFER BLYTH

It seems only fitting that after four decades in the grocery business, Country Grocer Director Peter Cavin has been named a lifetime member of the Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers.

In accepting the honour earlier this spring, Peter highlighted the important role the federation has played for Country Grocer over the years, especially as the Island-grown company is one of the last few remaining independent grocers on Vancouver Island.

“It’s been both a challenging and rewarding career full of great experiences,” Peter said. “My CFIG experience has definitely been one of the rewarding ones, and it’s truly an honour to be in the company of all the previous CFIG life members.

“The food business just seems to be full of great people.”

Founded in 1962, the Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers is a non-profit trade association that supports more than 6,900 independent, franchised and specialty grocery retailers across Canada, providing programs for operational excellence and fostering solid relationships among retailers and suppliers.

Over the years, Peter has served as a board member, executive member and chair, extending his local leadership to the national stage and supporting other independent grocers in Canada from coast to coast to coast.

In a video salute before the award presentation, the CFIG recalled Peter’s first days in the industry, in the mid-1980s.

“Imagine if you’re an accountant and your phone rings and it’s your brothersin-law asking if you’d like to join them starting a grocery business. What do you do?

“If you’re Peter Cavin, you find yourself becoming a partner in a grocery store!”

While “it was a steep learning curve and there were some lean times in the beginning,” today Country Grocer has 11 stores and the Island Independent Buying Group to supply them.

Thanking the CFIG Board and members for the honour, “it was such a pleasant surprise as there are so many other individuals that are deserving of this award,” Peter said.

Recognizing his wife, Laura, sons Craig and Andrew, and the Country Grocer team, “I would not have been able to contribute to CFIG throughout the years without their support and the support of my partners Wally Large and Henry Zwynenburg and their families,” Peter said.

As Country Grocer became established in the central and south Island, the leadership team understood early how the Federation helps independent grocers on important issues, and wanted to be involved, he noted.

And as the local company started to grow, there were additional benefits too.

“Being part of CFIG over the years introduced me to independent grocers from across Canada, and many of them became friends, people who you could call to bounce something off and get the benefit of their experiences – all great people,” Peter said.

Reflecting on Country Grocer’s recent purchase of four 49th Parallel stores and looking ahead to the future, Peter saluted the company’s next leaders – Tyler Large, Derek and Jake Zwynenburg, Megan Knight, and Craig and Andrew Cavin, who’ve all grown up in the family-run business.

“We are fortunate to have a great group of next gens who are leading the business forward in our 39th year and for many more to come,” Peter said, saluting as well the many suppliers who’ve helped the Island grocer grow. “It is truly appreciated.”