New ownership at Gilmours Mt Roskill

Introducing Matt Humphrey, new Owner Operator for Gilmours Mt Roskill

I have owned Gilmours Wellington for the last 10 years and really enjoyed building a strong connection with the foodservice industry there. Wellington was very innovative and Jo my wife and I really enjoyed our time in that vibrant environment. We grew the business significantly in the time we were there, based on providing the best service in the market.

Auckland is home, and Jo and I are very excited to be coming back. This is where our family and life-long friends are, and we love the lifestyle and cultural variety that Auckland provides. We are very fortunate to have the opportunity to take over the business from Aaron, who has done an amazing job for the past 16 years. Like Aaron, we also take a long-term view, and we look forward to building strong partnerships with our customers. We will continue to aim to be the Foodservice Partner that you can trust.

How did your journey start at Gilmours and in Foodservice? My first part time job was washing dishes in a restaurant in Mission Bay. The energy and camaraderie of the team was amazing, and it was the first time I tried bearnaise sauce, and it is still my favourite on steak! I have worked in Foodservice for a number of years on the supply side, with Fonterra, Coke and Constellation wines before joining Gilmours Mt Roskill 11 years ago. I worked at Mt Roskill for a year, then moved to Wellington to take over ownership of Gilmours Wellington. My wife Jo and I owned that for 10 years and really enjoyed being part of the vibrant hospitality community there. I am really looking forward to getting involved in the hospitality scene in Auckland.

Tell us a little bit about where you are from?
I am from Auckland originally, and most of my family are here, so after 10 years in Wellington my family and I are really keen to get back. We love the energy and diversity of the Auckland food scene, so are really looking forward to getting back.

When did you decide to go on the owner/operator path?
About 11 years ago I decided that I wanted to become a business owner, and the opportunity at Gilmours came about. I have really enjoyed being the owner of Gilmours Wellington for the last 10 years, and I look forward to building on that experience as owner of Gilmours Mt Roskill.

What do you want to achieve for yourself and for Gilmours Mt Roskill?
Gilmours Mt Roskill is a great business with a great team, built on a very strong customer focus. My goal is to continue the approach of providing the best service in the market to our valued customers I am a salesperson first and foremost, so am keen to get out and meet as many customers as I can. We are keen to provide what our customers need, so we are open to stocking what is required, and providing the best service in the market.