David Slack Of Bidvest - a legend in the Waikato food produce sector
When it comes to fresh produce buying in New Zealand very few people are able to match the knowledge of Hamilton’s David Slack.
These days an astute produce buyer and new customer developer for leading worldwide fresh produce distributor Bidvest, Slack is proud of his long time involvement in the food industry and the many contacts he has made.
“It is an industry which is fast paced and one which you have to keep up to speed with it every day of the year,” says David.
“I love every minute of my time and the people I get to meet every day I’m at work ,” he says.
David’s involvement with the fresh produce (fruit and vegetable) industry stretches back more than 45 years and began with his own 24 hours a day, six day a week prodce business he set up in Hamilton.
“That became very successful and well known throughout the Waikato and it was satisfying building it into a good business,” he says.
His first job in the fresh produce industry was as a “barrow boy” and auctioneers assistant for the Parke Davis produce markets in Christchurch.
His next foray into the fresh produce industry was at McFarlanes produce markets which saw him involved for the first time in product buying.
David then got approached by the high-profile “Self Help” stores to become the fresh produce manager in Christchurch, a position he accepted and was then transferred to Auckland where he spent six years in the produce department.
He then returned to Hamilton and in 1987 he set up set up a new business enterprise in an empty warehouse known as “Growers Direct” which specialised in sourcing fresh produce from fruit and vegetable wholesalers.
“Growers Direct grew rapidly and its turnover grew from $750 a week to $7 million a year before he sold it five years ago,” David says.
The Growers Direct business is nowadays operating as the highly successful South African-owned Bidvest and David is rapt to still have a close involvement with the business and the clients which he has built a close rapport with over so many years.
On a daily basis he is dealing direct with fresh produce suppliers and brokers to gain the best pricing for Bidvest and its customers.
Over the years he has seen many changes in the fresh produce industry as it continues to evolve into a high-tech industry and Bidvest is leading the way in being actively involved in developing grower networks with fruit and vegetable wholesalers for fresh produce.