Our History

     In 1968, Vern aka Mickey Lutner a meat cutter by trade, founded Lucky Meats in Ucluelet. The primary market for the new company was catering to logging camps of which there were many in the 1960’s and 1970’s on the West Coast of Vancouver Island. Mickey Lutner was not only known as an excellent meat cutter, but quite a character as well. His book Meat Trade Secrets Exposed, was published in 1979 and created quite a stir within the BC meat industry for obvious reasons. Mr Lutner continued to operate as Lucky Meats until 1982 when the company was sold to Mr Dennis Klee who successfully expanded the operation to include distribution of fresh dairy, seafood and dry grocery. Far West Foods Group was the new name Mr. Klee chose for the operation.

Vernon E. Lutner

      In 1982 the company was sold to one of its employees, Rick Schievink who was only 21 years old at the time, and his wife Tierney were able to expand the business further and build the current Far West warehouse in 1989. Part of this expansion was the appointment of Far West as the Coca Cola distributor for the west coast of Vancouver Island, a contract still in place today. Mr and Mrs. Schievink operated a thriving Far West up until the BC economy had its severe downturn in the mid 1990’s. At that point the softwood lumber dispute as well as the near collapse of the salmon fishery created a very challenging situation. The company had to diversify further in order to maintain its sales base. Rick and Tierney successfully established the company as a full line restaurant and hotel supplier and also created a cash and carry in the front of the warehouse to service the small business operators on a walk in basis.

      In 2000 after operating the business for almost 20 years, Rick and Tierney hired a full time manager with a background in the retail food and foodservice food industries. Scott Johnson has been operating the company since September 2000 and as of October 2003 became an equity partner in the business. The company continues to provide a full line service with the focus being on beverage and hospitality distribution.