executive officer, managing director and chairman of the board of The Shopping Centre, has decided to end his 58-year long career in the grocery trade by putting the business up for sale.

Mr. Stephen Rego, son of Mr. August Rego's murdered brother, Victor, also owns a portion of the business.

Interested parties have approached the owners, said Mr. Rego, who began his career as a bagging boy at the age of 13. "I must be the oldest man on the Island in grocery,'' said Mr. Rego. "But, it is time to go further afield. I plan to play golf and sail my boat to nowhere,'' he said.

The store, which Mr. Rego built about 40 years ago, includes the shop floor, offices, warehousing, and parking lots.

"It's located in the city, which is still the major shopping area, and makes more sales than if it were located out in the country,'' said Mr. Rego. He denied rumours that the owners of Giant Foods in Middle Road, Warwick had already purchased his shareholding in the Shopping Centre.

"I wish we had sold it,'' he said. "There has been nothing more than vying for the store''.

Mrs. Delia Mendoza, an owner of Giant Foods, denied the store was making a bid for the Shopping Centre.