Flags flying at half-mast at Goodman Fielder factories and offices up and down the country is a most fitting tribute to food industry giant Sir Pat Goodman, says the New Zealand Food and Grocery Council.
“Sir Pat’s death at the weekend brings to a close a remarkable and inspiring story of business acumen mixed with generous philanthropy,” says Chief Executive Katherine Rich.
“He changed the face of the New Zealand baking industry.
“He showed that no matter how humble the beginnings – in his case a bakery in Motueka – you can go on to achieve great things if you have the right vision.
“His dream was for a national baking network with scale, consistent quality, and nationally advertised bread brands, and he achieved that, becoming known as the ‘King of Bread.’
“As the founding chairman of Quality Bakers, and then leading the Goodman Group, Goodman Fielder, and New Zealand’s biggest food company, Goodman Fielder Wattie’s, Sir Pat was the brains behind some of our most iconic brands.
“On behalf of the food industry, the Food and Grocery Council passes its sympathies to his family, friends and the team at Goodman Fielder, led by Managing Director Tim Deane.”