TONY Gudgeon, the much-loved chief executive of Chelmsford Star Co-op, has retired after 15 years of service with the supermarket giant that has served the community for 146 years.
He leaves the business with a turnover of £94 million and over 40 stores across the county, and a lifetime achievement award.
But when the father-of-three first took the helm at the Co-operative organisation, it was not in such a healthy position.
"We weren't prospering when I came in; there were challenges and things to be done," he told the Chronicle.
"Over that period we have transformed ourselves into a thriving business. We had reached crisis point and nearly had to merge with the largest Co-op."
Despite this perilous position he was undaunted in the new role and took a bold approach to solving the problems, having already worked for the Co-op movement for some 35 years, now 50 in total.
"As we were already a small business there was only a limited amount of efficiencies we could make, what it needed was to grow the business with a clear strategy and vision.
"People were saying 'you can't do that, it won't work' and doubted that we'd survive, but this approach worked in the long run."
Initially training as an accountant, Mr Gudgeon has worked in the Co-operative movement since leaving school, but made the switch to management on arrival in his Chelmsford post in 1998.
"I have had a good time and as a company we have come a long way. I'm very pleased that the number of people employed here has increased in the time I've been here.
"The number of supermarkets we have has gone from 15 to 44 and I'm very positive about future growth.
"But I'm probably just as pleased about our projects in the community."
Co-operatives come in different forms across the country, with the largest and most well-known in the country beginning in Rochdale.
Chelmsford Star exists separately to this movement.
Founded in 1867 it now has department stores, food shops, funeral directors and travel agents.
Philanthropy is one of the key aspects of the business, and Mr Gudgeon sees this aspect as a crucial link with the community they serve.
"The majority of fundraising is done by employees. We have to practise what we preach," he said.
"We have to be profitable, but it's fundamental that our profits go back into community projects so they help the less fortunate.
"The more profitable we are, the more we can do.
"Our whole focus is to benefit the community of Essex. Many people shop with us and support us because of what we stand for and what we put back into the community. It brings something different to retail.
"Members choose who they wish to be directors; it gives them a stake in the business.
"Schemes like the Community Card scheme and initiatives to get unemployed people and offenders back to work, we also promote trade in Chelmsford and recycle bicycles for Africa. They go mainly to Lesotho with the aim to help people become self-sufficient in three years."
The Community Card scheme allows schools and charities to give out cards that customers can then use in store to accrue points for particular local organisations.
A van has also been donated to the charity that drives around the county collecting bikes to recycle.
"When you come up with something that actually works and does what you hoped it would, it's quiet gratifying," he said. "I'm really pleased that the transition from my era to the next has been smooth and entirely by internal development and promotion, we have a strong culture of bringing people on.
"That way they are committed to our way of doing things. The new chief executive Barry Wood started on the shop floor, he's Essex born and bred, we like to bring people through internally, that way they are brought up on the culture of the business and will keep the spirit going.
"You need to have a talented management team. There's no gender bias at all and in fact there are more women on the management team and the board is 50-50."
Gender balance and a family atmosphere is also an important feature of the co-operative culture.
"It's like a family business, everyone is on first names, and there are no titles amongst the employees. The board of directors have been very supportive; it's been a privilege to work for them."
But Mr Gudgeon's time in Chelmsford has not been completely happy. Not long after arriving at Chelmsford Star in 1998 his 16-year-old son died after taking medication prescribed following a fall from a horse.
"It was very difficult because you're not attuned to it, you don't expect your kids to die before you. You just have to accentuate the positive in life. I think if you dwell on the negative, that's not a constructive outlook to have," he said.
Mr Gudgeon, who is originally from Kendal in Cumbria where his family still live, will be travelling back there on his retirement to spend time with them. But first he's off to America.
"I'm going to visit the Calgary Stampede – it's one of the biggest cowboy rodeos in the world and is a whole massive cultural festival.
"Then I will be returning to the Lake District after retirement, but I will be staying in touch because I will be retaining an interest in successful membership and make sure I will come to shareholders' meetings
"I've done my 50 years and I'm proud of the people I've worked with and all we've achieved."