Pete Luckett

Pete Luckett is a customer service expert, master storyteller, author, professional speaker, and media personality has been delighting international audiences with his energetic presentation style. Whether Pete is interacting with his customers at Pete's Frootique, or harvesting fresh insights for corporate audiences - Canada's most talked about greengrocer serves up practical lessons from the entrepreneurial front lines.

Pete is a born entrepreneur. At age 14, he saw opportunity in the sights, sounds and flavours of England’s busy outdoor food markets. Part theatrical sideshow, part business-savvy--Pete saw a perfect niche for his gregarious personality and produce know how. He learned how to stand out in a crowd by offering excellent quality, unique products and a fun, exciting shopping experience. He knew everyone by name, treated them like the good friends they were, and his customers never left Pete’s stall without knowing something new, trying something new, a full basket and a smile on their face.

Like all business adventurers, his early success encouraged him to push the boundaries and test the waters. He crossed the Atlantic in 1989, spending several years exploring culinary experiences all over the world. With a new global perspective he was ready to settle down and take Atlantic Canada by storm. He grew from a single retail outlet in New Brunswick in 1989, to one of Atlantic Canada’s best known and loved brands…Pete’s Frootique.  

Pete launched Pete's Frootique in Nova Scotia in 1992. Today, Pete's Frootique is a multi-million dollar retail and wholesale operation that includes a second Frootique located in the business district of Halifax. Departing from the market style charm of the original location, Pete created a chic urban green experience tailored for the downtown crowd. Whether it's new business challenges, or displaying mangos, Pete keeps it fresh. The Frootique locations are open concept, with distinct destinations specializing in deli, produce, bakery, meats and fish and more. Pete and his team have repeatedly been awarded the prestigious Canadian Independent Grocer of the Year Award.

Pete relentlessly markets his brand as a media personality, hitting multiple touch points, while always educating his public. For over 12 years Pete appeared on the national television program, Midday, where he extolled the flavour and health virtues of exotic fruits and vegetables. His weekly newspaper column and books feature exciting recipes.

Most recently, Pete’s food adventure television series, The Food Hunter, aired internationally and enticed consumers from the comfort of their armchairs.

• 1. Turning Buyers into Believers – How to Create Raving Fans!

  "Whether you're selling lemons or Lamborghinis, you've got to turn your buyers into believers."
  
  Pete's remarkable success in business can be narrowed down to one key insight - buyers buy on price, but believers buy on emotion. From his early days selling tomatoes at an open-market fruit stand, to the expansion of a produce empire, Pete never fails to wow his customers with an experience that compels them to return – again. And again. He now wows his corporate audience with the same zest and appeal. Pete explains that as he moved from wooden produce cart, to bricks and mortar, to multiple locations, he never stopped investing in the intangibles that elevate a commodity exchange into an adventure. Customers of the Pete's Frootique experience believe grocery shopping is an event, an outing, something to look forward to. From the store design and merchandising, to staff training and media relations, every touchpoint reinforces Pete's Frootique as a destination for community, friendship, and culinary exploration. Pete established a brand experience for his customers that is distinctive, memorable and cannot be replicated by his competition. Sound good for your company or organization?

• 4. Merchandising Mavens – Magic and More!

  "As my father always said, 'If you can make 'em smile while you take their money, you've got it made!'"
  
  Pete's Frootique customers don't "shop" as much as they "congregate." And every retailer knows the longer they shop, the more they buy!Ambiance, artful displays and a maven to oversee it are the basic of a killer merchandising program. Be bold, buy deep and promote the hell out of it! Know when to hold 'em and when to fold em!Enticing optimal customer experience with bold style and displays and new product concepts that leverage consumers purchasing habits. Join master marketer, Pete Luckett as he shares how he makes his customers feel the WOW!! As one of Canada's leading independent retailers, Pete has transformed grocery shopping from mundane drudgery into a highly entertaining experience--where every display is a feast for the eyes and a tantalizing array of colors, textures, and fragrances. Your customers will be more likely to purchase what they came for, and much more.

• 3. The Gift of Change – Embracing Change and Challenge

  "The place where your greatest fears live is also the place where your greatest growth lies."
  
  Probably the most exciting and daunting part of business is that it is always changing. Just when the ground feels solid beneath your feet, the winds of change upset the apple cart and you're left scrambling. Let Pete Luckett, Canada's street smart entrepreneur demonstrate how to take the positive aspects of change and make them work for you! The produce industry is ever-changing with products literally dying by the second! How does Pete keep up? Through innovation, openness and forward thinking--three cornerstones that can help you become grounded (but not buried!) in change. As far as Pete's concerned, resisting change is a recipe for failure. "If I resisted change," says Canada 's favourite green grocer, "I would still be pitching fruit from a single stall in Nottingham Market." Change has been my greatest gift." Pete encourages companies to embrace change and develop a readiness to involve employees in the process. Remember, good companies manage change. Great companies create it!

• 2. Destination Workplaces – A Place of Choice!

  "You can't be a great place to shop until you are a great place to work..."
  
  In today's consumer-driven marketplace, it is critical for businesses to understand and respect how much power lies in the hands of frontline staff. From a one-man band to an employer of over 230+ staff, Pete's grassroots approach to employee training will help you examine your mentoring techniques and immediately implement new ideas in your business. Take this opportunity to turn the tables and focus on serving your employees and their unique needs. Sew the seeds of success within your staff--and grow a healthy business! "Customer service is about doing your job. Customer care is about loving your job," says Luckett. Build a destination workplace that retains and motivates the true ambassadors of your brand!"

• A note to say how much I appreciated Pete being a speaker at the North American Farmers Direct Marketing Association conference. Pete was the perfect fit for this type of retailer--he sure knows how to captivate an audience!
  North American Farmers, Direct Marketing Association
• We have received an overwhelmingly positive response from our attendees on all aspects of our 2002 Management Clinic. Your presence and program enabled us to not only meet, but exceed our commitment to offer our attendees a well rounded program.... Attendee comments included: A great innovator; great inspiration for thinking outside the box; super personality; great speaker - I want to go work for Pete!
  American Landscape and Nursery Association
• Pete Luckett remains a very important component of our annual conference and training sessions. Pete has made five or more presentations to our group over the years and all participants continue to tell us to "bring him back for more" through our evaluations. We are looking forward to tales of his travels to strange lands at future presentations.
  Federated Co-operatives Ltd.
• On behalf of the Canadian Health Food Association, I wish to thank you for participating in our Expo East 2001. Your Merchandising Seminars were wonderful and well enjoyed by all who attended them. We look forward to working with you in the future.
  Canadian Health Food Association
• Our 'East Meets West' conference could not have been kick started in a more inspirational and interesting manner. As one of the globe's finest Greengrocers, your presentation brought many crisp ideas and fresh practical tips to our tables! It was an absolute honour and pleasure to have you as part of our conference and to get to know you as a friend! Dynamite truly does come in small packages!
  OK Franchise Division
• Pete far exceeded all of my expectations! Not only was he entertaining and energetic, but he is a speaker of great substance with a wealth of knowledge to share. Pete has the ability to convey his keen business sense, innovative focus and stellar personality to deliver an inspirational session that genuinely moves the audience.
  Aliant

• 
  March 2001

  The Greengrocers Kitchen: Fruit & Nuts

  The Greengrocer's Kitchen: Fruit and Nuts is the key to buying, storing, and preparing those Edenic temptations. The Greengrocer's Kitchen: Fruit and Nuts contains over 150 recipes, as well as tips on every page for choosing the most delectable specimens and keeping them in prime condition.

  
  
• 
  January 1990

  Pete Luckett's Complete Guide to Fresh Fruit & Vegetables