UVic Business Board of Advisors Honours Alex Campbell Sr.

The University of Victoria’s Faculty of Business is recognizing Victoria’s Alex Campbell Sr. for his achievements in the retail food industry and as an outstanding philanthropist with the faculty’s Distinguished Entrepreneur of the Year award.

The annual award acknowledges an inspirational entrepreneur who has had a significant and positive impact on the global community through his or her business leadership. An Order of BC recipient, Campbell also holds an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from UVic.

“We’re delighted Mr. Campbell has accepted this award,” says Dr. Ali Dastmalchian, UVic dean of business. “He’s renowned for his commitment to service excellence, and for putting his customers first. He is an excellent role model for our students, and a wonderful benefactor to many worthy organizations.”

Campbell is the co-founder and chairman emeritus, and former president and CEO of Thrifty Foods. The grocery legend began in 1977 when he and Ernie Skinner opened the first Thrifty Foods store in Victoria. The enterprise grew to include 20 stores across Vancouver Island, Salt Spring Island and the Lower Mainland. Thrifty Foods employs more than 3,700 staff, making the company the largest private employer on Vancouver Island. The store that began it all is now one of the top grocery stores in Western Canada in sales per square foot. In 2007, Campbell sold the business to Sobeys, a chain of grocery stores with roots in Stellarton, Nova Scotia.

In addition to his leadership in providing service and retail excellence, Campbell has been an unwavering supporter of the community. From the inception of Thrifty Foods, he has given back to the community through generous support to local food banks, elementary and high school students, children with disabilities, the arts and the environment.

Campbell is the seventh UVic Business Distinguished Entrepreneur. He will receive the award at a gala, black-tie event on June 1, 2010 at the Victoria Conference Centre. He joins a select circle of distinguished entrepreneurs: Sir Terence Matthews, a technology entrepreneur and investor in telecommunication ventures (2009); Clive Beddoe, a founding shareholder and executive chair of WestJet (2008); David Black, founder of Canada’s largest privately owned newspaper publishing company (2007); Gwyn Morgan, who established EnCana Corp. as the country’s largest energy company (2006); Dave Ritchie, chairman of Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers (2005); and Jeff Mallett, former president and chief operating officer of Yahoo (2004).

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