Pak'nSave Tauranga owner Dean Waddell has been appointed the new chairman of the board for supermarket heavyweight Foodstuffs North Island.
Waddell is a third-generation grocer and began working in New World Brookfield at the age of 13.
He studied at Massey University and graduated with a Bachelor of Business Studies before returning to work at New World. Waddell bought the supermarket in February 1992 and after 21 years at the helm sold the business in March 2013 moving onto Pak'nSave Tauranga on Cameron Rd in April 2013.
"I am very proud of our family's long history in the supermarket industry. After 26 years as a co-op member it is a privilege to chair the board of Foodstuffs North Island. We have a 95-year history of serving New Zealand communities and to play an important part in our next stage of growth is very exciting," Waddell said.
Waddell was appointed to the Foodstuffs Board in January 2010, becoming Deputy Chairperson in 2013.
Chris Quin, Foodstuffs North Island chief executive said Waddell's appointment was testament to his business experience, leadership, drive and positive future outlook for the co-op.
Former chairman of the board Peter Anderson who retired late last year said: "Dean has my full support, and that of all the directors, and he will do an excellent job of leading the Board into a new and exciting chapter for our co-op".