John Apthorp
Encyclopedia
John Apthorp is a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...

 businessman specializing in frozen food
Frozen food
Freezing food preserves it from the time it is prepared to the time it is eaten. Since early times, farmers, fishermen, and trappers have preserved their game and produce in unheated buildings during the winter season. Freezing food slows down decomposition by turning water to ice, making it...

 and alcoholic beverage
Alcoholic beverage
An alcoholic beverage is a drink containing ethanol, commonly known as alcohol. Alcoholic beverages are divided into three general classes: beers, wines, and spirits. They are legally consumed in most countries, and over 100 countries have laws regulating their production, sale, and consumption...

s.

He first enjoyed success as a founding member and managing director of the family business of frozen food stores Bejam
Bejam
Bejam was a British frozen food retailer which was founded by John Apthorp in 1968, based in Stanmore. The concept of selling only frozen foods was a novel idea at the time, and Bejam grew out of Apthorp's existing family business of E. A. D. Apthorp, who were potato merchants specialising in local...

, which became a market leader in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...

, trading from hundreds of stores across the country. In 1989, Apthorp sold the company which was still doing very well, to its rival Iceland
Iceland (supermarket)
Iceland is a supermarket chain in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Iceland's primary product lines include frozen foods, such as frozen prepared meals and frozen vegetables - hence the name of the company...

. He also founded Wizzard Wines (now Majestic Wines) a chain of off-licences.

It was reported in both 2002 and 2003 (and again in 2009) that the wealth of Apthorp and his family was over 100 million pounds Sterling. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/richlist/person/0,,21970,00.html http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/specials/rich_list/rich_list_search/?l=27&list_name=Rich+List+2009&advsearch=1&t=1&n=&k=bejam&a=&r=&g=&i=&new=&x=3&y=7
The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
x
OK