Other food and drink industry people with big bank accounts
The Warburton family
Bolton-based Warburtons started baking bread in 1876 to overcome a dip in sales at Thomas and Ellen Warburton’s grocery. The company now employs around 4,500 people across 12 bakeries and 13 depots across the UK, with assets of £471.5M.
Meanwhile, last month the firm made the decision to replace 28 staff with machines at its Variety bakery in Bolton, following a £1M investment in automation.
Sir David Samworth family
Pie and pasty maker Samworth Brothers saw £45.2M profit on £744.5M sales in 2011. The firm, which owns Ginsters, dates back to 1896 and has nearly £182M of assets.
The Leicester-based company is worth £450M. Past dividends takes the company, led by life president David to £490M.
Meanwhile, the company announced last January it was building a new food manufacturing facility that will create 700 jobs in Leicestershire.
Sir Douglas Myers
This London-based New Zealander made his fortune with brewer Lion Nathan. He is valued at £429M, having sold his 16% stake to the Japanese Kirin Brewing Company.
Eric Heard
Heard inherited frozen foods retailer Farmfoods, along with his brother Gordon, in 1988. He bought out his brother in 2004 for £10.3M. With a solid balance sheet and £60.8M net assets, Farmfoods is worth £250M and the Heard family has a £238M stake – other assets add £15M.