Robert Sainsbury
Encyclopedia
Sir Robert Sainsbury was the son of John Benjamin Sainsbury (the eldest son of Sainsbury's supermarkets founder John James Sainsbury
), and along with his wife Lisa began the collection of modern and tribal art
housed at the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts
, Norwich
.
, before qualifying as an accountant.
Robert and his wife, Lisa, had three daughters, Elizabeth (Elizabeth Clark, 19 July 1938 – 14 August 1977), Celia and Annabel, and a son, David.
Robert Sainsbury was an advocate of better conditions for the retail chain's employees. Pensions and sickness benefits for all staff came in 1935; overtime payments were introduced in 1941; and, from 1962, the five-day week was standard.
Eight years after he joined the family firm, his father, John Benjamin Sainsbury, retired due to ill-health, and Robert Sainsbury and his elder brother Alan Sainsbury became joint general managers. While Alan Sainsbury took charge of trading matters, Robert Sainsbury specialised in administration, finance and personnel. It was a happy partnership, lasting more than 30 years.
The Second World War broke out a year after Robert Sainsbury's promotion, and there were rationed supplies at the 250 Sainsbury's shops.
Robert Sainsbury was a strong supporter of the Beveridge report, which cradled the welfare state into being. By the end of the war, Robert Sainsbury had cut the long hours which under-18s had necessarily put in - with men conscripted and women on war work.
The 1950s brought self-service supermarkets. Over the period of his joint general management, deputy chairmanship and chairmanship (he became deputy chairman when his father died in 1956, and succeeded his brother as chairman in 1967), the company's turnover increased from £45m to £166m, and the number of employees rose fourfold.
By the time he retired as chairman in 1969, Robert Sainsbury had been a principal architect of the supergrocer's fortunes, which insured its continuing success through to the beginning of the 1990s.
, and was awarded a knighthood in 1969 for services to the arts.
Robert Sainsbury in 1973 made a gift to the University of East Anglia
of several hundred paintings, drawings and sculptures from around the world, which he had bought over the decades.
Designed by Norman Foster, a talented British architect, and with an endowment of £3m from his son, David, to house the works, the awe-inspiring Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts
opened in spring 1978.
John James Sainsbury
John James Sainsbury was the founder of the Sainsbury's supermarket chain.-Early and private life:John James Sainsbury was born on 12 June 1844 at 5 Oakley Street, Lambeth, to John Sainsbury , ornament and picture frame maker, and his wife Elizabeth Sarah, née Coombes...
), and along with his wife Lisa began the collection of modern and tribal art
Tribal art
Tribal art is an umbrella term used to describe visual arts and material culture of indigenous peoples. Also known as Ethnographic art, or, controversially, Primitive Art, tribal arts have historically been collected by Western anthropologists, private collectors, and museums, particularly...
housed at the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts
Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts
The Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts is an art gallery and museum located on the campus of the University of East Anglia, Norwich in the United Kingdom...
, Norwich
Norwich
Norwich is a city in England. It is the regional administrative centre and county town of Norfolk. During the 11th century, Norwich was the largest city in England after London, and one of the most important places in the kingdom...
.
Early and family life
Robert Sainsbury was educated at Haileybury College and Pembroke College, CambridgePembroke College, Cambridge
Pembroke College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.The college has over seven hundred students and fellows, and is the third oldest college of the university. Physically, it is one of the university's larger colleges, with buildings from almost every century since its...
, before qualifying as an accountant.
Robert and his wife, Lisa, had three daughters, Elizabeth (Elizabeth Clark, 19 July 1938 – 14 August 1977), Celia and Annabel, and a son, David.
Business career
In 1930, he joined the family grocery business founded by his grandfather, and became joint president almost 40 years later.Robert Sainsbury was an advocate of better conditions for the retail chain's employees. Pensions and sickness benefits for all staff came in 1935; overtime payments were introduced in 1941; and, from 1962, the five-day week was standard.
Eight years after he joined the family firm, his father, John Benjamin Sainsbury, retired due to ill-health, and Robert Sainsbury and his elder brother Alan Sainsbury became joint general managers. While Alan Sainsbury took charge of trading matters, Robert Sainsbury specialised in administration, finance and personnel. It was a happy partnership, lasting more than 30 years.
The Second World War broke out a year after Robert Sainsbury's promotion, and there were rationed supplies at the 250 Sainsbury's shops.
Robert Sainsbury was a strong supporter of the Beveridge report, which cradled the welfare state into being. By the end of the war, Robert Sainsbury had cut the long hours which under-18s had necessarily put in - with men conscripted and women on war work.
The 1950s brought self-service supermarkets. Over the period of his joint general management, deputy chairmanship and chairmanship (he became deputy chairman when his father died in 1956, and succeeded his brother as chairman in 1967), the company's turnover increased from £45m to £166m, and the number of employees rose fourfold.
By the time he retired as chairman in 1969, Robert Sainsbury had been a principal architect of the supergrocer's fortunes, which insured its continuing success through to the beginning of the 1990s.
Charitable works
Robert Sainsbury was as an art collector and benefactor who gave his collection to the University of East AngliaUniversity of East Anglia
The University of East Anglia is a public research university based in Norwich, United Kingdom. It was established in 1963, and is a founder-member of the 1994 Group of research-intensive universities.-History:...
, and was awarded a knighthood in 1969 for services to the arts.
Robert Sainsbury in 1973 made a gift to the University of East Anglia
University of East Anglia
The University of East Anglia is a public research university based in Norwich, United Kingdom. It was established in 1963, and is a founder-member of the 1994 Group of research-intensive universities.-History:...
of several hundred paintings, drawings and sculptures from around the world, which he had bought over the decades.
Designed by Norman Foster, a talented British architect, and with an endowment of £3m from his son, David, to house the works, the awe-inspiring Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts
Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts
The Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts is an art gallery and museum located on the campus of the University of East Anglia, Norwich in the United Kingdom...
opened in spring 1978.