Image: John Anderson, Chair, CEO, and managing partner of Oppy with one of his Anderson Air aircraft. / UFV / Provided

By Alyssa Conti

RECOGNIZING LEADERS

B.C. food industry executive receives honorary UFV degree

Jun 14, 2025 | 2:30 PM

ABBOTSFORD — Over the past week, the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) has honoured six leaders with honorary degrees for achievements in their respective fields, and one of those leaders is the Chairman and CEO of Coquitlam-based food service giant, Oppy.

Rising to the top of the company food chain didn’t start as a glamorous feat. An 18-year-old John Anderson joined The Oppenheimer Group in 1975 to fund his real dream – becoming a commercial pilot.

“My dad set me up with Oppenheimer,” he recalled. “They needed help to unload a rail car loaded with cabbages and covered in a layer of ice.”

His hard work was slowly recognized as Anderson moved into the warehouse and eventually sales, where he learned more about the agricultural business and helped introduce kiwi fruit and Gala apples to the Canadian market.

He never did get around to becoming a pilot, but from the late 80s to 2001, Anderson grew his wings and went from Chief Operating Officer to full ownership of the company. He credits a significant part of his success to the connections he made along the way.

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“You have to have a team of people, and you have to make them successful,” he explains. “You have to lead by example, build a culture in your team, measure it on a regular basis, and ask yourself, ‘Do I emulate that culture?’ “You have to be prepared to do it yourself.”

During a brief stint in flight school, an instructor introduced Anderson to some businesspeople who were looking for a plane to lease. From there, he founded Anderson Aviation, a fleet that offers a range of services using one of its dozen jets and helicopters.

His son Ryan, a UFV Aviation alumnus, is now the president of Anderson Air.

The University presented Anderson with an honorary Doctor of Laws degree on Tuesday, June 10, at the UFV Athletic Centre in Abbotsford.