Weston family
Encyclopedia
The Weston family of Canada
and the United Kingdom
are prominent businesspeople with global interests in food and clothing businesses. The family operations began with the founding of a bakery
in Toronto, Ontario by George Weston
.
Through George Weston Limited
and various holding companies, the Canadian branch of the Weston family owns or controls over 200 companies, including Canada's largest supermarket chain, Loblaws. Among their other businesses, they own or control a number of retailers such as upscale department stores Holt Renfrew
in Canada, Brown Thomas
in Ireland
and Selfridges
at various locations in the United Kingdom.
The main holding company of the British branch of the family is Wittington Investments
. 79.2% of this company belongs to a charitable trust called the Garfield Weston Foundation
, with the balance owned personally by family members. Wittington Investments owns a majority stake in Associated British Foods
(which itself owns the discount clothing chain Primark
), and 100% of retailers Fortnum & Mason
and Heal & Son.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and the United Kingdom
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...
are prominent businesspeople with global interests in food and clothing businesses. The family operations began with the founding of a bakery
Bakery
A bakery is an establishment which produces and sells flour-based food baked in an oven such as bread, cakes, pastries and pies. Some retail bakeries are also cafés, serving coffee and tea to customers who wish to consume the baked goods on the premises.-See also:*Baker*Cake...
in Toronto, Ontario by George Weston
George Weston
George Weston , Canadian businessman and founder of George Weston Limited, became Toronto’s biggest baker with Canada’s largest bread factory. Weston began his career at the age of twelve as a baker's apprentice and went on to become a bread route salesman...
.
Through George Weston Limited
George Weston Limited
George Weston Limited , often referred to as Weston or Weston's, is Canada's largest food processing and distribution company. Founded by George Weston in 1882, the company today consists of Weston Foods, a wholly owned subsidiary, and Loblaw Companies Limited, the country's largest supermarket...
and various holding companies, the Canadian branch of the Weston family owns or controls over 200 companies, including Canada's largest supermarket chain, Loblaws. Among their other businesses, they own or control a number of retailers such as upscale department stores Holt Renfrew
Holt Renfrew
Holt Renfrew is a chain of high-end Canadian department stores. It is comparable to Barneys New York and Saks Fifth Avenue in the United States, and to two other upmarket chains owned by the same family, Britain's Selfridges and Ireland's Brown Thomas...
in Canada, Brown Thomas
Brown Thomas
Brown Thomas & Company Limited is a chain of four Irish department stores, located in Dublin, Cork, Galway and Limerick. Owned by Wittington Investments, Brown Thomas is an upmarket chain, akin to Canada's Holt Renfrew chain and Britain's Selfridges stores, which are also controlled by the Weston...
in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
and Selfridges
Selfridges
Selfridges, AKA Selfridges & Co, is a chain of high end department stores in the United Kingdom. It was founded by Harry Gordon Selfridge. The flagship store in London's Oxford Street is the second largest shop in the UK and was opened on 15 March 1909.More recently, three other stores have been...
at various locations in the United Kingdom.
The main holding company of the British branch of the family is Wittington Investments
Wittington Investments
Wittington Investments Limited is an unquoted British investment company. It is 79.2% owned by the Garfield Weston Foundation, which is one of the UK's largest grant-making trusts, and 20.8% owned by members of the Weston family....
. 79.2% of this company belongs to a charitable trust called the Garfield Weston Foundation
Garfield Weston Foundation
The Garfield Weston Foundation is a grant-giving charity, based in the United Kingdom.It was formed by Canadian businessman W. Garfield Weston , who during his lifetime contributed to numerous humanitarian causes both personally and through his companies. His philanthropic works continue through...
, with the balance owned personally by family members. Wittington Investments owns a majority stake in Associated British Foods
Associated British Foods
Associated British Foods plc is a global food, ingredients and retail company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. Its ingredients division is the world's second largest producer of both sugar and baker's yeast and a major producer of other ingredients including emulsifiers, enzymes and lactose...
(which itself owns the discount clothing chain Primark
Primark
Primark is a clothing retailer, operating over 223 stores in Ireland , the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Germany, Spain, Portugal and Belgium...
), and 100% of retailers Fortnum & Mason
Fortnum & Mason
Fortnum & Mason, often shortened to just "Fortnum's" is a department store, situated in central London, with two other branches in Japan. Its headquarters is located at 181 Piccadilly, where it was established in 1707 by William Fortnum and Hugh Mason...
and Heal & Son.
Family members
- George WestonGeorge WestonGeorge Weston , Canadian businessman and founder of George Weston Limited, became Toronto’s biggest baker with Canada’s largest bread factory. Weston began his career at the age of twelve as a baker's apprentice and went on to become a bread route salesman...
(1864–1924) - W. Garfield WestonW. Garfield WestonWillard Garfield Weston, OC, , Canadian businessman and philanthropist, led George Weston Limited and its various subsidiaries and associated companies, including Associated British Foods, for half a century and established one of the world's largest food processing and distribution concerns...
(1898–1978) - Grainger Weston (b. 1923)
- Garry WestonGarry WestonGarfield "Garry" Howard Weston, CBE was a Canadian-born businessman in the United Kingdom. Born in Toronto, Ontario, he was the son of Reta and W. Garfield Weston, owner of the George Weston Limited conglomerate headquartered in Toronto: fourth of their nine children...
(1927–2002) - Galen WestonGalen WestonWillard Gordon Galen Weston, OC, OOnt , is a Canadian businessman and philanthropist. He is the Chairman and President of George Weston Limited...
(b. 1940) - Hilary Frayne WestonHilary WestonHilary M. Weston , CM, O.Ont was the 26th Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, serving from 1997 to 2002. During her five year tenure, Mrs...
(b. 1942) - George G. WestonGeorge G. WestonGeorge Garfield Weston is a British businessman. He is a son of Garry Weston. He is Chief Executive of Associated British Foods, a role for which he is paid an annual salary of £825,000.-Early life:...
(b.1964) - Guy WestonGuy WestonGuy Weston is a British businessman. He is the eldest son of Garry Weston and Mary Weston, and brother of George G. Weston. Guy has held positions in the past in Associated British Foods. He is Chairman of Heal's plc.-Biography:...
(b. 1961) - Galen G. WestonGalen G. WestonGalen G. Weston is a Canadian businessman and the current executive chairman of Loblaw Companies Limited. He is the son of Willard Gordon Galen Weston and Hilary Weston....
(b. 1972) - Alannah Weston (b. 1972)
- Jana KhayatJana KhayatJana Khayat serves on the board of the department store Fortnum & Mason.The third child of Garry Weston, billionaire chairman of Associated British Foods, Jana graduated from Oxford University with a history degree before joining the Fortnum & Mason management team...