Aussie Farmers Direct CEO steps down

keith-louieKeith Louie has stepped down as the chief executive officer of Aussie Farmers Group (AFG), confirmed in an announcement made by the company yesterday.

The board of AFG has appointed the company’s CFO, Brendan Shaw, to the position of acting CEO to lead the business while the search for a new chief continues.

“Keith has had an outstanding career in the Australian retail industry and has done a great job over the last two years in positioning AFG for the next important phase of the company’s development,” said a board spokesperson.

“2017 will be a watershed year for AFG as the company rolls out a number of exciting new initiatives such as offering The General Store nationwide and expanding our ready-to-cook meals offering.

In August last year, Louie told Inside Retail that the launch of The General Store could possibly lead to doubling the business over the next 12-18 months.

“Our tens of thousands of weekly customers are buying fresh products so clearly the initial market is to allow those customers to buy from a broader range,” Louie told Inside Retail Weekly. “But I do think now that we have a full supermarket range, we will attract a lot of new customers who are now currently shopping online with Coles or Woolworths.”

The company spokersperson said the company’s farmer procurement model, day-before ordering and no subscriptions will deliver sustainable growth and success for the company.

“Keith believes the Company is well-positioned for terrific growth and now is the right time for new leadership to drive AFD’s next phase of success.”

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