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W. Galen Weston, former head of Loblaw’s parent company, dies at 80

Ex-chairman and CEO of George Weston Ltd. turned Canadian grocer into premier retailer

Russell Redman

April 14, 2021

2 Min Read
WGalen_Weston-George_Weston_LTD-Loblaws_store.jpg
W. Galen Weston shown at Loblaw's Queen’s Quay supermarket in Toronto in 1999.George Weston Ltd.

W. Galen Weston, former chairman and CEO of George Weston Ltd. (GWL), the parent of Loblaw Cos., Canada’s largest food and drug retailer, has died at age 80 after a long illness.

Toronto-based GWL said yesterday that Weston, chairman emeritus of the company, passed away at his home on April 12.

Weston was a member of one of Canada’s wealthiest families. The Westons’ retail empire includes Loblaw’s and its Shoppers Drug Mart subsidiary plus the department store chains Selfridges (United Kingdom), Holt Renfrew (Canada), Brown Thomas (Ireland) and de Bijenkorf (Netherlands). GWL, named after his grandfather, George Weston, encompasses the Loblaw Cos., Weston Foods baked goods and Choice Properties real estate businesses.

The British-born Weston retired as chairman of GWL in 2016 at age 75 and was succeeded by his son, Galen G. Weston, part of the family’s fourth generation of leaders. The elder Weston continued his lifelong commitment to philanthropy through the Weston Family Foundation, the Weston Brain Institute and other organizations.

“My father’s greatest gift was inspiring those around him to achieve more than they thought possible,” Galen G. Weston, currently chairman and CEO of GWL, said in a statement. “In our business and in his life, he built a legacy of extraordinary accomplishment and joy.”

Related:Loblaw realigns leadership with plan to sell Weston Foods

W. Galen Weston succeeded his father in assuming executive control of the company in 1974. During his tenure, he remade Loblaw into Canada’s top retailer and built Weston Foods into one of North America’s largest food processing companies. He also oversaw the introduction of some of Canada’s most innovative brands and retail concepts, including President’s Choice private labels, the Joe Fresh apparel brand, and the NoFrills and Real Canadian Superstore retail banners.

Alannah Weston, daughter of W. Galen Weston and the chair of Selfridges Group, commented, “The luxury retail industry has lost a great visionary. His energy electrified those of us who were lucky enough to work alongside him to reimagine what customer experience could be.”

Loblaw’s retail network encompasses 2,439 stores, including 550 corporate-owned supermarkets under multiple banners, 542 franchised grocery stores and 1,347 Shoppers Drug Mart/Pharmaprix associate-owned drugstores. The company also provides the President’s Choice (grocery), no name (food and household products) and Life Brand (health and wellness) private labels; PC Financial services; Joe Fresh fashion and apparel brand; and the PC Optimum loyalty program.

Related:Weston to succeed father at helm of Loblaw parent

Last month, GWL unveiled plans to divest Weston Foods, triggering a leadership shuffle at Loblaw. Plans call for Loblaw President Sarah Davis to retire on May 6 and be succeeded by Executive Chairman Galen Weston, who will become Loblaw’s chairman and president. Weston also will retain his current role as chairman and CEO at GWL.

About the Author

Russell Redman

Senior Editor
Supermarket News

Russell Redman has served as senior editor at Supermarket News since April 2018, his second tour with the publication. In his current role, he handles daily news coverage for the SN website and contributes news and features for the print magazine, as well as participates in special projects, podcasts and webinars and attends industry events. Russ joined SN from Racher Press Inc.’s Chain Drug Review and Mass Market Retailers magazines, where he served as desk/online editor for more than nine years, covering the food/drug/mass retail sector. 

Russell Redman’s more than 30 years of experience in journalism span a range of editorial manager, editor, reporter/writer and digital roles at a variety of publications and websites covering a breadth of industries, including retailing, pharmacy/health care, IT, digital home, financial technology, financial services, real estate/commercial property, pro audio/video and film. He started his career in 1989 as a local news reporter and editor, covering community news and politics in Long Island, N.Y. His background also includes an earlier stint at Supermarket News as center store editor and then financial editor in the mid-1990s. Russ holds a B.A. in journalism (minor in political science) from Hofstra University, where he also earned a certificate in digital/social media marketing in November 2016.

Russell Redman’s experience:

Supermarket News - Informa
Senior Editor 
April 2018 - present

Chain Drug Review/Mass Market Retailers - Racher Press
Desk/Online Editor 
Sept. 2008 - March 2018

CRN magazine - CMP Media
Managing Editor
May 2000 - June 2007

Bank Systems & Technology - Miller Freeman
Executive Editor/Managing Editor
Dec. 1996 - May 2000

Supermarket News - Fairchild Publications
Financial Editor/Associate Editor
April 1995 - Dec. 1996 

Shopping Centers Today Magazine - ICSC 
Desk Editor/Assistant Editor
Dec. 1992 - April 1995

Testa Communications
Assistant Editor/Contributing Editor (Music & Sound Retailer, Post, Producer, Sound & Communications and DJ Times magazines)
Jan. 1991 - Dec. 1992 

American Banker/Bond Buyer
Copy Editor
Oct. 1990 - Jan. 1991 

This Week newspaper - Chanry Communications
Reporter/Editor
May 1989 - July 1990

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