Canadian Retailer - Store 2014 - 28

STORE 2014 AWARDS OF DISTINCTION

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT

A LIFETIME IN RETAIL HONOURED

After almost 50 years in retail, including 25 as President of
Hudson's Bay Company and the Liquor Control Board of Ontario
(LCBO), Bob Peter still gets excited about work
BY TALBOT BOGGS
"EVERY DAY is a new day in retail with lots of challenges,"

more rigorous restriction of access to alcohol
says Peter, recently named the recipient of Retail Council of by minors and intoxicated persons, drinkCanada's (RCC) Lifetime Achievement award. "In the retail ing and driving education, ensuring product
business there are always a million things that need to be safety, implementing packaging innovations,
done just to keep up. There's always a challenge."
developing lightweight wine bottle options, inPeter began his distinguished career as a young Business creasing the use of PET plastic and aluminum,
Administration graduate from the University of Manitoba. and phasing out the use of plastic bags.
He applied for a job at Eaton's in Winnipeg but was told to
Throughout his career, Peter has recognized
come back after he got some retail experience. He went over the importance that people play in the success
to Hudson's Bay Company and got a job in the merchandis- of any retail business and the need to give back
ing department where he began to work his way through and to the community. He implemented measures
up the organization as a buyer, department manager, per- such as reducing the weight of cases that has
sonnel manager and then in more senior roles, eventually reduced lost time from injuries by 65 per cent
becoming President in 1988. During his tenure, he led the and has also devoted personal time to philanintegration of people, systems and culture at The Bay, the thropic and community organizations such as
acquisition of A. J. Frieman's, Simpsons and K Mart Canada, the United Way of Greater Toronto, RCC, the
the development of a new specialty store concept, Home Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Junior AchieveOutfitters, and grew sales by more than 41 per cent to more ment and the Toronto Zoo.
than $6.3 billion a year.
The LCBO that Peter joined as President and "We implemented efficiencies and process improveCEO in 2001 had already undergone a transments in warehouses, store back-rooms and right
formation to a customer-focused organization,
but he saw an opportunity to add a new level of onto the retail floor. It was a huge cultural change
operational efficiency and excellence, expand that had a lot of spin-off benefits like eliminating
its wine and beer business, create an "aspira- unnecessary warehouses, reducing accidents and
tional" marketing focus and ultimately improve
giving our staff more time...serving customers."
sales and profitability.
Probably the biggest innovation Peter made
- BOB PETER
to the alcohol retailer was its inventory management system. "We implemented efficiencies and proPeter's career has been characterized by a
cess improvements in warehouses, store back-rooms and strong work ethic, a sense of fairness and loyalright onto the retail floor," Peter says. "It was a huge cultural ty to employees, employers, suppliers, peers
change that had a lot of spin-off benefits like eliminating un- and the community, a pride in the organization,
necessary warehouses, reducing accidents and giving our a drive to make things better and a focus on instaff more time to spend on the floor supplying products novation, excellence and profit. Between 2002
where people buy them and serving customers."
and 2013 the LCBO's net sales have increased
Peter also developed and implemented a "go local" strategy 67 per cent to $4.93 billion and profit has soared
to enhance the reputation of Ontario wine and beer manufac- by 85.8 per cent to $1.9 billion.
turers and drive sales. Between 2002 and 2013 Ontario wine
"The two main qualities I believe are needed
sales increased by 91.8 per cent to $386 million while beer for success in retail are integrity and curiossales rose 35.8 per cent to $997.4 million.
ity," Peter says. "Good merchants are curious
He helped make the LCBO a leader in socially-responsible people who look for new ideas and see opporretailing and environmental sustainability as well through tunities in trends."

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