David Frank Sobey, chair emeritus of Sobeys, has passed away at the age of 92.

Sobey had served on the board of directors of Empire, the Canadian grocery retailer that owns Sobeys and related real estate.

According to Jim Dickson, chair of Empire, Sobey had a significant influence on transforming the company from a regional grocery chain to a leading Canada-based food distribution and retailing business.

Michael Medline, president & CEO of Empire, described Sobey’s legacy as “an unparalleled business culture that spans from coast to coast and is lived every day by our 131,000 teammates”.

Sobey, who took over the business from his father, held many senior leadership roles at the business during his life, including serving as vice chairman, chairman, CEO, and chair emeritus. In 2015, he retired from the Empire board.