Brian Galt doesn’t enjoy being in the limelight and hasn’t developed any love of publicity.
When asked what business activities he’s been involved in over the past year, he answers: “not for publication.”
But a couple of buildings he and his son, Dean, own around Wellington have caused the odd stir.
A building they own at 79 Boulcott St hit the headlines in April when its tenants had to vacate at short notice after it was deemed unfit to occupy.
Mr Galt says the building is being strengthened and that the tenants will probably be able to move back in by about Christmas.
And shoppers at their Pak ‘n Save supermarket in the Wellington suburb of Kilbirnie have certainly noticed the extensive renovations under way.
“You’ve got to do that to keep trading,” Mr Galt says.
Mr Galt was born in Invercargill but moved north after getting into the grocery trade and buying the New World supermarket in Miramar, now sold, and later the New World supermarket in Kilbirnie before turning it into a Pak ‘n Save store, which opened in October 1999 and was extended in 2006.
A fuel site behind the store was also added with the extension.
The family also has an extensive commercial property portfolio in Wellington’s CBD, believed to include the Maritime Tower on Customhouse Quay, CallActive House in Willeston St, the AC Nielsen Building in Victoria St and commercial offices in Johnston St.
Photo: ODT