Alain Pare leaves Metro to join Groupe Connexion
Alain Pare leaves Metro to join Groupe Connexion
After a 16-year run with Metro Inc., Alain Pare has left the Montreal-based firm -- one of Canada's larger retailers -- to join Groupe Connexion in Joliette, QC.
Mr. Pare's first day with Groupe Connexion was July 21. Groupe Connexion is a holding company for three businesses owned by Daniel Berard: Danfreight Systems Inc., VegKiss and B&B Gardens.
"Daniel and I have been friends for many, many years, and while I'm naturally sad to leave the Metro team as it was very good for me, I'm ready for new adventures and new challenges," Mr. Pare told The Produce News July 22. "The company is growing fast, and Daniel has many challenges he wants to achieve. My mandate is to see that there is synergy between the [individual] companies, as ultimately at the end of the day we are working for the same company. I'll be on top of things, making sure we are all working in the same direction."
Mr. Pare said that he has "tons of ideas" and things that he wants to achieve in his new position. After 32 years in the retail side of the trade -- 16 with Metro, where he was the director of central produce procurement, and another 16 at Provigo -- he has developed a large network of connections that he plans to utilize to better Groupe Connexion.
Mr. Berard was very enthusiastic about Mr. Pare joining his firm and told The Produce News July 20 that "he is going to be like my right arm. He is a man of his word, is loyal, is very solution-oriented and is very well known in the industry."
Mr. Pare is also on the board of the Canadian Produce Marketing Association, is a past president of the Quebec Produce Marketing Association and spent 10 years on the board of the Fruit & Vegetable Dispute Resolution Corp.
Mr. Pare's first day with Groupe Connexion was July 21. Groupe Connexion is a holding company for three businesses owned by Daniel Berard: Danfreight Systems Inc., VegKiss and B&B Gardens.
"Daniel and I have been friends for many, many years, and while I'm naturally sad to leave the Metro team as it was very good for me, I'm ready for new adventures and new challenges," Mr. Pare told The Produce News July 22. "The company is growing fast, and Daniel has many challenges he wants to achieve. My mandate is to see that there is synergy between the [individual] companies, as ultimately at the end of the day we are working for the same company. I'll be on top of things, making sure we are all working in the same direction."
Mr. Pare said that he has "tons of ideas" and things that he wants to achieve in his new position. After 32 years in the retail side of the trade -- 16 with Metro, where he was the director of central produce procurement, and another 16 at Provigo -- he has developed a large network of connections that he plans to utilize to better Groupe Connexion.
Mr. Berard was very enthusiastic about Mr. Pare joining his firm and told The Produce News July 20 that "he is going to be like my right arm. He is a man of his word, is loyal, is very solution-oriented and is very well known in the industry."
Mr. Pare is also on the board of the Canadian Produce Marketing Association, is a past president of the Quebec Produce Marketing Association and spent 10 years on the board of the Fruit & Vegetable Dispute Resolution Corp.
