CFIG announces 2015 Life Member recipients
The Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers has announced the recipients of this year’s Life Member Designations.
Mike Lovsin (left) of Stony Plain, Alta.-based Freson Bros. is being given the award in the Independent Grocer category, while Saputo Canada’s Joe Weber (right) is the recipient in the Industry Builder category.
Lovsin joined Freson Bros. after university, and is now chairman of the retailer.
He was active in Alberta’s Independent Retail Grocer’s Association, and brought Freson Bros. into the CFIG fold in the 1990s.
Today, Freson, Bros. is the largest family-owned independent grocery chain in Alberta, and is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year.
READ: CFIG announces 2014 Life Member recipients
“Mike has invested hundreds of hours of his personal time to help ensure independent grocers in Canada continue to be a force in the grocery channel,” said Tom Barlow, president and CEO of CFIG. “Mike’s leadership style of ‘leading from the front’ is an inspiration to our association and we are very proud that Mike was chosen.”
Weber currently serves as senior vice-president, retail sales for Saputo Canada and is a Past Chair of the CFIG Associate Members’ Council.
Before joining Dairyworld Foods in 1994, which was acquired by Saputo Canada, Weber worked at Nabob Foods, where he held increasingly senior positions in Vancouver, Edmonton and Calgary.
READ: CFIG announces 2013 Life Member Designations
“Joe works closely with the board and staff of CFIG to ensure that the impact and collective size of what the independents in Canada represent when measured against market share, total sales or influence in their local communities, is recognized and appreciated, “said Barlow.
Lovsin and Weber will be recognized at Grocery Innovations Canada. The show takes place Sept. 28 and 30 in Toronto.
Click here to register for Grocery Innovations Canada 2015