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Walter Da Cruz is the founder and CEO of RIDBS (Retail Is Detail Business Strategy), a South African consulting firm specializing in retail strategy, operations, and profit protection. With over 46 years in the high-volume FMCG sector, he brings deep expertise in retail, wholesale, supply chain, and IT. Key Career Highlights- Early Foundations (1979?1988): Started at Makro as Admin Manager (Foods Buying), then advanced to Branch Manager and Group Merchandise Director at Metro Cash & Carry and Trador Cash & Carry, focusing on operations and merchandising.
- Leadership Roles (1992?2007): Served as Group Foods Merchandise Director at Checkers Supermarkets, General Manager at Metro Cash & Carry, Private Label Executive at Daymon SA/Daymon International, and Director of Business Information & Strategy at Metcash Cash and Carry, emphasising strategy and private label development.
- C-Level Tech & Transformation (2007?2017): As CIO at Super Group and Stuttafords Retail Stores, he led digital transformations, IT governance, system controls, and process optimisations.
- Recent Ventures (2017?Present): CEO of Boxer BUILD Stores (2017?2018), then founded RIDBS in April 2018 to offer consulting on turning risky retail ideas into controlled operations, with a focus on data-driven systems, discipline, and SA-specific challenges like compliance and utilities resilience.
Da Cruz's work aligns with RIDBS's mission to help owners avoid common pitfalls in supermarket openings through evidence-driven frameworks
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