2026 Future Leader in Convenience + Car Wash winner: STEVE SCHULTZ

Having grown up in the convenience/distribution business his parents started—PA Fine Foods—Steve Schultz’s path to success was paved with hands-on hard work. He joined the team in 2005, learning the business from the ground up. Since purchasing the company from his parents in 2021, Schultz has expanded it throughout Western Canada, continually seeking ways to improve service to his customers by modernizing and growing the business.

“When I was promoted to management in 2013, we were still following the ‘pack and peddle’ method where a driver/salesman loaded his truck as a travelling warehouse with speculative inventory to try and fill our clients' needs,” recalls Schultz. “Today, we operate using a pre-sell method where our territory managers place the customer’s orders at store level and they are fulfilled from our central warehouse. Our drivers depart with the orders pre-picked to meet the client’s exact needs. Sales increased substantially with our legacy customer base when we changed our methodology, and we have been able to offer significantly increased product assortment to our customers.”

Schultz values the close, mutually beneficial relationships built over many years with his customers.  

“Maintaining and developing existing and new vendor relationships is also rewarding and enjoyable,” he says.

“Our operating model is unique within the industry, where we’ve paired traditional distribution services with value added market execution capabilities. When I explain our role in the market to new customers and vendors, it brings me a great sense of pride and accomplishment.”