Lisa Oldershaw, Foodstuffs North Island General Manager, Own Brands, was seeking a faster-paced, larger-scale food business to further her career.
Having always loved supermarkets, she applied for the Tesco graduate program and, based on her previous work experience, was offered a role in the meat department as a technical manager.
It was there that she discovered the role of a buyer/category manager and was captivated by the challenge of building the right ranges, balancing pricing, brands, customer offers, and innovation to meet budgets.
With the support of one of the directors, she then secured her first buying role as a continental meats and cheese buyer.
She found her passion and thrived on navigating high-pressure crises, including the "mad cow disease" and foot-and-mouth outbreaks. Over time, she worked across many categories, including fats and total cheese, before moving to the non-food side of Tesco, sourcing products internationally across Asia.
Tesco gave her an incredible foundation in retail, and in 2007, she moved to New Zealand after falling in love with the country during a visit to a lamb processing facility.
After a short time at The Warehouse, she joined Foodstuffs, working across BP service stations and Wild Bean cafés, before taking on the role of head of New World for the North Island.
Eventually, she landed her current role as General Manager, Foodstuffs Own Brands and private label, which she said is undoubtedly the highlight of her career.
Over the past seven years, the Pams brand and team have grown rapidly, but what stood out to Oldershaw was how they supported each other and carried themselves with pride and determination, keeping the customer at the forefront throughout the journey.
“Retail, especially supermarket retail, has been an incredible industry that has captivated me for over 30 years. Its fast-paced, ever-changing, and challenging nature keeps me motivated,” said Oldershaw.
“The constant need to plan, adapt, and pivot to drive success still gives me a real buzz. As my career has progressed, I’ve found an even greater thrill in leading through others, creating environments and visions that allow people to bring their authentic best selves to the table.”
She added that she had deep respect for hardworking individuals who combined humility, integrity, and a focus on people, with a sense of fun along the way.
One person who had a significant impact on her was Julia Reynolds during her time at Tesco in the early 2000s. She said Reynolds wasn’t the typical Tesco director of that era, as she was feminine, sassy, emotional, empathetic, and an exceptional retailer with a keen eye for style and innovation.
“Julia taught me that you don’t have to fit a mould to succeed. In fact, being different is a superpower. You owe it to yourself and the business to bring your unique qualities, insights, and ideas to the table,” added Oldershaw.
“Sometimes, you may need to push harder to be heard, but you should never stop pushing. Her example empowered me to be my authentic self, and I have carried that mindset throughout my career.”
If she could offer one piece of advice to her younger self, it would be to approach life and work with authenticity, integrity, and humility; value people, because without them, there is nothing; and most importantly, have fun, life is too short not to.
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