Several leading figures from the fresh produce and wider food industry have been named among Britain’s richest people.
The Sunday Times Rich List 2018 puts food and drink as the third-largest source of wealth among a lineup of people dominated by self-made millionaires. It marks a significant change from 30 years ago, when the list was predominantly made up of landowners.
This year’s list includes the Oughtred family, whose £183m wealth puts it in 647th place. The family owns the William Jackson Food Group, whose companies include Abel & Cole, Aunt Bessie's and MyFresh.
In 675th place, with a £175m fortune, are G’s Group owners John and Guy Shropshire, while Argent Group Europe’s David Gray, an investor in the Poupart companies, comes in at 930th place with £123m.
Icelandic brothers Agust and Lydur Gudmundsson, who founded Bakkavor, have £700m and 197th place on the ranking.
Sir David Samworth and family, who own the Samworth Brothers food manufacturing business, appear at number 225 with a fortune of £590m.
Former Del Monte chief executive Vivian Imerman – dubbed ‘the Man from Del Monte’ – who made £380m from his share of the tinned fruit business, comes in at 329th place with £390m.
Other food industry heavy hitters making the list include ‘chicken kings’ Ranjit and Baljinder Boparan (183rd) with £746m; Iceland boss Malcolm Walker and family (455th) with £265m; and Eric Herd and family (554th), who own frozen food specialists Farmfoods and have £215m.
But it hasn’t been a great year for everyone. Chef and healthy eating campaigner Jamie Oliver dropped out of the chart following a poor year for his restaurants.
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