Retired Millicent supermarket manager Brian Foster and his late father Bob Foster have been honoured by their peers.
The pair were recently admitted to the Hall of Fame of the Foodland buying and marketing group.
Mr Foster and his wife Cathy attended a gala dinner at the Adelaide Convention Centre where they were presented with a framed portrait in oils of the two inductees.
The forerunner to Foster’s Foodland in Millicent had opened its doors at Rendelsham on January 2, 1947.
Bob Foster opened his first store in his home town and later expanded his business interests to Millicent and joined the Foodland chain.
His son Brian and grandson Dave joined the business and eventually assumed the role of manager.
Bob Foster kept an active interest in the supermarket until he died in 2014 at the age of 92.
The current Foster’s Foodland premises in Kentish Place opened in 1971 and the store is a significant local employer, sponsor of local groups and purchaser of local meat and other produce.
Like his father, Brian Foster is occasionally seen in retirement in the supermarket.
He covers for staff absences and also uses his trade from time-to-time as a butcher in the in-store meat department.
Dave Foster is pleased and proud that his two predecessors as manager have been recognised by Foodland.
“We have employed hundreds of local people since our first shop opened almost 76 years ago at Rendelsham,” Dave Foster said.
“Many locals’ first experience of the workforce was at Foster’s Foodland and we have employed three generations of the same family in some cases.
“The Foster family is totally committed to Millicent and district.
“We have been repeatedly asked over the past six months if we have sold the building and business to overseas interests.
“I first heard the rumours mid-year and I thought they would go away.
“However, the rumours are still out there.
“I want to stress the rumours are untrue.
“We will be continuing to own the building and business, employ 35 local people, support local clubs and organisations and source many products from local suppliers as we have always done.”
