Sainsbury family
Encyclopedia
The Sainsbury family founded Sainsbury's, the UK's third largest supermarket chain. Today, the family has many interests, including business, politics, philanthropy, arts and sciences.
The last family member to work for the company was Tim Sainsbury
who retired as a non-executive director in 1999. The last family chairman was David Sainsbury who retired as chairman of the company in 1998. This brought to an end 129 years of management of the group by the Sainsbury family. As a government minister since 1998, his shares were held in a blind trust until 2007.
The largest shareholder is now the Qatar Investment Authority
(the investment vehicle of the Qatari royal family of the Gulf Kingdom) who as of July 2009 holds 26.145% of the company.
Lord Sainsbury of Preston Candover's decision to split his 3.89% holding in Sainsbury's between other members of his family in December 2006 suggests that the family may not have sold as many shares as previously thought. The other theory could be that the most senior members of the family, with previous stakes of over 3% (the reportable stock exchange shareholding threshold), could have simply transferred some of their shares to their children (who previously held few shares), rather than having sold shares onto the open market. However, some shares which have been sold were definitely sold to the open market (according to Miss Judith Portrait, the trustee for many Sainsbury family settlements).
This fall from around 35% increases the possibility of any takeover attempt succeeding. However, the Sainsbury family have managed to use their remaining stake to block takeover bids in the past, as demonstrated by the two failed takeover bids in 2007. A hostile bid for the company may encounter difficulties, without the full support of the Sainsbury family. The halving of the generous dividend yield in recent years may have been a significant factor regarding the family's decision to reduce their shareholdings.
Annabel Sainsbury (married name Annabel Kanabus) set up, with her husband, the international AIDS charity AVERT
, and the charity GHE . Adrian Kanabus has set up Adrians Charity.
Principal members of the Sainsbury family
Principal members of the founding family of the UK supermarket chain Sainsbury's are:- John James SainsburyJohn James SainsburyJohn 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...
(c.1844 – c.1928) , co-founder of the Sainsbury's supermarket chain - Mary Ann SainsburyMary Ann SainsburyMary Ann Sainsbury was the wife of John James Sainsbury, the founder of the Sainsbury's supermarket chain.-Early and private life:...
née Staples (c.1849 – c.1927) , wife of John James Sainsbury and co-founder of the Sainsbury's supermarket chain
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- John Benjamin SainsburyJohn Benjamin SainsburyJohn Benjamin Sainsbury was the eldest son of John James Sainsbury, the founder of the Sainsbury's supermarket chain, and his wife, Mary Ann Sainsbury.-Early and private life:...
(1871-1956), Eldest son of John James and Mary Ann Sainsbury
- John Benjamin Sainsbury
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- Alan John Sainsbury, Baron Sainsbury of Drury Lane (1902-1998), son of John Benjamin Sainsbury, a Labour life peerLife peerIn the United Kingdom, life peers are appointed members of the Peerage whose titles cannot be inherited. Nowadays life peerages, always of baronial rank, are created under the Life Peerages Act 1958 and entitle the holders to seats in the House of Lords, presuming they meet qualifications such as...
1962 as Lord Sainsbury
- Alan John Sainsbury, Baron Sainsbury of Drury Lane (1902-1998), son of John Benjamin Sainsbury, a Labour life peer
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- John Davan Sainsbury, Baron Sainsbury of Preston Candover KGOrder of the GarterThe Most Noble Order of the Garter, founded in 1348, is the highest order of chivalry, or knighthood, existing in England. The order is dedicated to the image and arms of St...
(1927-), son of Alan Sainsbury, a Tory life peerLife peerIn the United Kingdom, life peers are appointed members of the Peerage whose titles cannot be inherited. Nowadays life peerages, always of baronial rank, are created under the Life Peerages Act 1958 and entitle the holders to seats in the House of Lords, presuming they meet qualifications such as...
(Baron Sainsbury of Preston Candover), married to former ballerina Anya LindenAnya LindenAnya Linden, Lady Sainsbury of Preston Candover is a retired English ballerina. She spent her childhood in California, where she received her early training with Koslov in Hollywood. She returned to England in 1947 and studied at the Sadler's Wells Ballet School, joining the company in 1951. She...
- The Hon. Sarah Sainsbury, daughter of John Davan Sainsbury, married to Hon. Robert Butler-Sloss, son of Elizabeth Butler-Sloss, Baroness Butler-SlossElizabeth Butler-Sloss, Baroness Butler-SlossAnne Elizabeth Oldfield Butler-Sloss, Baroness Butler-Sloss, GBE, PC is a retired English judge. She was the first female Lord Justice of Appeal and, until 2004, was the highest-ranking female judge in the United Kingdom. Until June 2007, she chaired the inquests into the deaths of Diana, Princess...
- The Hon. John Julian Sainsbury, son of John Davan Sainsbury
- The Hon. Mark Sainsbury, son of John Davan Sainsbury
- The Hon. Sarah Sainsbury, daughter of John Davan Sainsbury, married to Hon. Robert Butler-Sloss, son of Elizabeth Butler-Sloss, Baroness Butler-Sloss
- John Davan Sainsbury, Baron Sainsbury of Preston Candover KG
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- The Hon. Simon SainsburySimon SainsburyThe Hon Simon David Davan Sainsbury was a British businessman, philanthropist and art collector.-Early and private life:...
(1930-2006), son of Alan Sainsbury, quiet philanthropist who gave away £100 million. . Entered into a civil partnership with Stewart Grimshaw shortly before his death.
- The Hon. Simon Sainsbury
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- The Right HonourableThe Right HonourableThe Right Honourable is an honorific prefix that is traditionally applied to certain people in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the Anglophone Caribbean and other Commonwealth Realms, and occasionally elsewhere...
Sir Tim Sainsbury (1932-) , son of Alan Sainsbury, former Tory MPMember of ParliamentA Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
and Minister, married to Lady Sainsbury (1932-)- Camilla Sainsbury, daughter of Timothy Sainsbury, married to Conservative, then Labour, MPMember of ParliamentA Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
The Rt Hon.The Right HonourableThe Right Honourable is an honorific prefix that is traditionally applied to certain people in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the Anglophone Caribbean and other Commonwealth Realms, and occasionally elsewhere...
Shaun WoodwardShaun WoodwardShaun Anthony Woodward is a British Labour Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament for St Helens South since 2001. He served in the Cabinet from 28 June 2007 to 11 May 2010 as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland... - James Sainsbury, son of Timothy Sainsbury
- Alexander Sainsbury, son of Timothy Sainsbury
- Princess Jessica Sainsbury, daughter of Timothy Sainsbury and married to Prince Peter de Frankopan Subic Zrinski
- Camilla Sainsbury, daughter of Timothy Sainsbury, married to Conservative, then Labour, MP
- The Right Honourable
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- Paulette Sainsbury, daughter of Alan Sainsbury (1946-). Married name Paulette Anderson.
- Cairistiona Anderson, daughter of Paulette Anderson
- Lindsey Anderson, daughter of Paulette Anderson
- Paulette Sainsbury, daughter of Alan Sainsbury (1946-). Married name Paulette Anderson.
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- Sir Robert SainsburyRobert SainsburySir Robert Sainsbury , was the son of John Benjamin Sainsbury , and along with his wife Lisa began the collection of modern and tribal art housed at the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts, Norwich.-Early and family life:Robert Sainsbury was educated at Haileybury College and Pembroke...
(1907-2000), son of John Benjamin Sainsbury, who along with his wife Lisa began the collection of modern and tribal art housed at the Sainsbury Centre for Visual ArtsSainsbury Centre for Visual ArtsThe 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...
, NorwichNorwichNorwich 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...
- Sir Robert Sainsbury
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- Elizabeth Sainsbury (Elizabeth Clark 19 Jul 1938 - 14 Aug 1977), daughter of Robert Sainsbury
- James Clark, son of Elizabeth Clark
- Alexander Clark, son of Elizabeth Clark
- Elizabeth Sainsbury (Elizabeth Clark 19 Jul 1938 - 14 Aug 1977), daughter of Robert Sainsbury
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- David Sainsbury, Baron Sainsbury of Turville (1940-), son of Robert Sainsbury, Labour life peerLife peerIn the United Kingdom, life peers are appointed members of the Peerage whose titles cannot be inherited. Nowadays life peerages, always of baronial rank, are created under the Life Peerages Act 1958 and entitle the holders to seats in the House of Lords, presuming they meet qualifications such as...
(Baron Sainsbury of Turville)- The Hon. Clare Sainsbury, daughter of David Sainsbury, wrote Martian In The Playground, to help people understand Asperger syndrome
- The Hon. Anya Lucy Sainsbury, daughter of David Sainsbury
- The Hon.Francesca Sainsbury, daughter of David Sainsbury
- David Sainsbury, Baron Sainsbury of Turville (1940-), son of Robert Sainsbury, Labour life peer
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- Celia Sainsbury, daughter of Robert Sainsbury, married name Celia Blakey.
- Simon Blakey, son of Celia Blakey
- Michael Blakey, son of Celia Blakey.
- Celia Sainsbury, daughter of Robert Sainsbury, married name Celia Blakey.
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- Annabel Sainsbury, daughter of Robert Sainsbury, married name Annabel Kanabus, former director of the HIV/AIDS charity AVERTAVERTAVERT is an international AIDS charity based in Horsham, South East England, United Kingdom.-Early work:...
and now director of the charity GHE.- Jason KanabusJason KanabusJason Kanabus was a member of the Sainsbury supermarket family, and on his death he left £2.5 million to charity.-Working life and hobby:...
(1976-2006), son of Annabel Sainsbury, left fortune to Prince's Trust to help young people become established in farming. - Adrian Kanabus, son of Annabel Sainsbury
- Jason Kanabus
- Annabel Sainsbury, daughter of Robert Sainsbury, married name Annabel Kanabus, former director of the HIV/AIDS charity AVERT
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- Arthur Sainsbury (1880-1962)
- James Sainsbury (1909-1984)
- Arthur Sainsbury (1880-1962)
Family involvement in Sainsbury’s
No family member now works for the company, although John Davan Sainsbury is the Life President of the firm.The last family member to work for the company was Tim Sainsbury
Tim Sainsbury
Sir Timothy Alan Davan Sainsbury is a politician and businessman in the United Kingdom.-Early life:Sainsbury is the youngest son of Lord Sainsbury and his wife Doreen...
who retired as a non-executive director in 1999. The last family chairman was David Sainsbury who retired as chairman of the company in 1998. This brought to an end 129 years of management of the group by the Sainsbury family. As a government minister since 1998, his shares were held in a blind trust until 2007.
Family shareholding in Sainsbury’s
The equity interest in Sainsbury’s held by the family as of August 2009 is just 15%. The family sold down their stake from 35% in 2005. The largest family shareholders are Lord Sainsbury of Turville with 5.85% and Lord Sainsbury of Preston Candover, who controls just under 3% of the company, and benefits from 1.6% of the equity included in the above. The Sunday Times reported in September 2006 that "The Sainsbury family continues to [sell] shares in the £6.2 billion retailer... and for the first time their combined holding has fallen below 20%.”The largest shareholder is now the Qatar Investment Authority
Qatar Investment Authority
The Qatar Investment Authority is Qatar's sovereign wealth fund, specializing in domestic and foreign investment. It was founded in 2005 to manage the oil and natural gas surpluses by the Government of Qatar...
(the investment vehicle of the Qatari royal family of the Gulf Kingdom) who as of July 2009 holds 26.145% of the company.
Lord Sainsbury of Preston Candover's decision to split his 3.89% holding in Sainsbury's between other members of his family in December 2006 suggests that the family may not have sold as many shares as previously thought. The other theory could be that the most senior members of the family, with previous stakes of over 3% (the reportable stock exchange shareholding threshold), could have simply transferred some of their shares to their children (who previously held few shares), rather than having sold shares onto the open market. However, some shares which have been sold were definitely sold to the open market (according to Miss Judith Portrait, the trustee for many Sainsbury family settlements).
This fall from around 35% increases the possibility of any takeover attempt succeeding. However, the Sainsbury family have managed to use their remaining stake to block takeover bids in the past, as demonstrated by the two failed takeover bids in 2007. A hostile bid for the company may encounter difficulties, without the full support of the Sainsbury family. The halving of the generous dividend yield in recent years may have been a significant factor regarding the family's decision to reduce their shareholdings.
Buildings set up by the Sainsbury family
The Sainsbury family has also set up a number of buildings, to house their various interests. These are:- Sainsbury Centre for Mental HealthSainsbury Centre for Mental HealthThe Centre for Mental Health is a UK charity that aims to help to create a society in which people with mental health problems enjoy equal chances in life to those without...
Centre to improve the quality of lives for people with mental health problems - Sainsbury Centre for Visual ArtsSainsbury Centre for Visual ArtsThe 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...
Arts Centre - Sainsbury LaboratorySainsbury LaboratoryThe Sainsbury Laboratory located at the John Innes Centre in Norwich, Norfolk, England is a world leading institute working on plant-microbe interactions....
Science Laboratory - Sainsbury Wing Wing of the National Gallery (London)
The Sainsbury family charitable interests
Eighteen of the grant-making trusts set up by members of the Sainsbury family, are known collectively as the Sainsbury Family Charitable Trusts. Institutions whose creation they fostered include the following:- Sainsbury Centre for Mental HealthSainsbury Centre for Mental HealthThe Centre for Mental Health is a UK charity that aims to help to create a society in which people with mental health problems enjoy equal chances in life to those without...
Centre to improve the quality of lives for people with mental health problems - Sainsbury Centre for Visual ArtsSainsbury Centre for Visual ArtsThe 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...
Arts Centre - Sainsbury LaboratorySainsbury LaboratoryThe Sainsbury Laboratory located at the John Innes Centre in Norwich, Norfolk, England is a world leading institute working on plant-microbe interactions....
Science Laboratory - Sainsbury Wing Wing of the National Gallery, London
- Sainsbury Management FellowshipSainsbury Management FellowshipThe Sainsbury Management Fellowship scheme was setup in 1987 by David Sainsbury to develop UK engineers into leaders in industry and thereby to improve the competitiveness of UK engineering, manufacturing and construction businesses...
A scheme to develop UK engineers into leaders in industry
Annabel Sainsbury (married name Annabel Kanabus) set up, with her husband, the international AIDS charity AVERT
AVERT
AVERT is an international AIDS charity based in Horsham, South East England, United Kingdom.-Early work:...
, and the charity GHE . Adrian Kanabus has set up Adrians Charity.
Sainsbury family interests in politics
The Sainsbury family also has varying political interests.- Alan Sainsbury supported Labour
- John Davan Sainsbury supports the Conservatives
- David Sainsbury now supports Labour, and is the former Science and Innovation Minister (1998-2006)
- Sir Tim SainsburyTim SainsburySir Timothy Alan Davan Sainsbury is a politician and businessman in the United Kingdom.-Early life:Sainsbury is the youngest son of Lord Sainsbury and his wife Doreen...
supports the Conservatives, and is a former MP for Hove (1973-1997) - Camilla Sainsbury, daughter of Tim, is married to Conservative, then Labour, MPMember of ParliamentA Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
Shaun WoodwardShaun WoodwardShaun Anthony Woodward is a British Labour Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament for St Helens South since 2001. He served in the Cabinet from 28 June 2007 to 11 May 2010 as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland...