Weston family
{{Short description|Business family in Canada, Ireland and UK}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2023}}
The Weston family is a prominent family of businesspeople that was founded in Canada and eventually developed global business interests, primarily in the food and retail sectors.[https://web.archive.org/web/20060411214411/http://www.forbes.com/lists/2006/10/V30Q.html Forbes: Galen Weston & Family] The family operations began with the purchase of a bakery in 1884 by American-born Canadian George Weston in Toronto, Ontario.{{cite DCB |title=Weston, George |first=Kerry |last=Badgley | volume= 15|url=http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/weston_george_15E.html}} Over the course of subsequent decades, his descendants also established themselves in the United Kingdom, Ireland and the United States.
Through George Weston Limited and various holding companies, the Canadian branch of the Weston family currently owns or controls over 200 companies, including the Loblaws supermarket chain and the Shoppers Drug Mart pharmacy chain. Among their other businesses, members of this branch own or control several additional retailers, including Holt Renfrew in Canada.{{Cite news|date=2021-12-24|title=Selfridges sold for £4bn to Thai-Austrian alliance|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-59777577|access-date=2021-12-24}} They previously owned other upscale department stores in the Selfridges Group, including Selfridges in the UK, Brown Thomas and Arnotts in Ireland, and De Bijenkorf in the Netherlands.{{cite web |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/retail-and-services/brown-thomas-and-arnotts-may-sell-in-4bn-selfridges-deal-report-1.4589981 |title=Brown Thomas and Arnotts may sell in £4bn Selfridges deal |work=Irish Times |accessdate=2022-01-21}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.retailgazette.co.uk/blog/2021/12/selfridges-owners-agree-4bn-sale-to-thailands-central-group/ |title=Selfridges owners agree £4bn sale to Thailand's Central Group |access-date=2021-12-03 |work=Retail Gazette|date=2 December 2021 }}
The main holding company of the British branch of the family is Wittington Investments. 79.2% of this company belongs to a British charitable trust called the Garfield Weston Foundation, with the balance owned by various family members. Wittington Investments owns a majority stake in Associated British Foods (which itself owns the discount clothing chain Primark), and 100% of British retailers Fortnum & Mason and Heal's.
In 2021, The Sunday Times named the Weston family among the most charitable people over the past 20 years, with donations of £1.661 billion.{{Cite news|last=McCall|first=Nick Rodrigues and Alastair|title=Marcus Rashford tops The Sunday Times Giving List 2021|newspaper=The Times|language=en|url=https://www.thetimes.com/sport/football/article/marcus-rashford-sunday-times-giving-list-2021-l9td90n0l|access-date=2021-07-24|issn=0140-0460}}{{Cite web|title=20 years of the Giving List by Alsastair McCall {{!}} CAF|url=https://www.cafonline.org/my-personal-giving/sunday-times-giving-list-2021/20-years-of-the-giving-list|access-date=2021-07-24|website=www.cafonline.org}}
Wealth
In 2018, the Westons were named Ireland's richest family for the tenth year running, with a wealth of €11.42 billion.{{Cite news|url=https://www.irishcentral.com/business/richest-family-ireland|title=Richest family in Ireland named... you've probably shopped in their stores|date=2018-04-02|work=IrishCentral.com|access-date=2018-11-13|language=en}}
In the Sunday Times Rich List 2020 ranking of the wealthiest people in the UK, "Guy Weston, Galen Weston Jr., George G. Weston and family" placed 8th in the list, with an estimated family fortune of £10.53 billion.{{cite news|title=The Sunday Times Rich List |url=https://www.thetimes.com/sunday-times-rich-list |date=17 May 2020|work=The Sunday Times|editor1=Watts, Robert|access-date=17 May 2020}}
Family members
File:Georgeweston.jpg in 1911]]
- George Weston (1864–1924), married Emma Maud Richards; six children (of whom two sons and two daughters survived childhood), including:
- W. Garfield Weston (1898–1978), married Reta Lila Howard (1897–1967); nine children:
- Miriam Louise Weston (1922–2008),{{cite web |url=https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/thestar/obituary.aspx?n=miriam-weston-burnett&pid=125192128 |title=Miriam Burnett obituary |work=Toronto Star |access-date=2018-08-07}} married Charles Ryland Burnett Jr. (1918–2004);{{cite web |url=http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=lva/vi00693.xml |title=A Guide to the Burnett Family Papers |work=Burnett Family Papers |access-date=2018-08-07}} one child:
- Charles Ryland Burnett III (1956–2018){{cite web |url=https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/houstonchronicle/obituary.aspx?n=charles-ryland-burnett-iii&pid=187984296 |title=Charles Burnett III Obituary |work=Houston Chronicle |access-date=2018-08-07}}
- George Grainger Weston (1923–2023),{{cite web |url=https://www.marketscreener.com/business-leaders/George-Weston-0JM1GS-E/biography/ |title=George Grainger Weston – Biography |access-date=2018-08-08}}{{cite web |url=https://www.legacy.com/ca/obituaries/theglobeandmail/name/george-weston-obituary?id=53537089 |title=George Grainger Weston |work=The Globe & Mail |via=Legacy.com |access-date=November 8, 2023}} married the Hon. Caroline Cecily Douglas-Scott-Montagu (1925–2017), daughter of John Douglas-Scott-Montagu, 2nd Baron Montagu of Beaulieu; five children{{cite web |url=http://www.thepeerage.com/p6849.htm |title=Caroline Cecily Douglas-Scott-Montagu |work=Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage, 107th edition. Wilmington, Delaware: Burke's Peerage (Genealogical Books) Ltd, 2003 |access-date=2018-08-08}}{{cite web |url=https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/sanantonio/obituary.aspx?n=caroline-weston&pid=185027485&fhid=8914 |title=Caroline Weston Obituary |website=Legacy.com |access-date=2020-12-20}}
- Galvin Weston
- Sarah Weston{{cite web |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/officers/wJTSVUpqjDSrqCX7I6ciOYx5m1w/appointments |title=Sarah Weston EIDSON |work=Companies House |access-date=21 May 2023}}
- Gregg Weston
- Glenn Weston
- Graham Weston{{cite web |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/officers/FDmvd0kdh5fjyBV8zEjfqJqdGQE/appointments |title=Graham Montague Weston |work=Companies House |access-date=4 December 2022}}
- Barbara Elizabeth Weston (1926–2001),{{cite web |url=https://www.legacy.com/ca/obituaries/theglobeandmail/name/barbara-mitchell-obituary?id=41856022 |title=Barbara Elizabeth Mitchell |work=The Globe and Mail (via Legacy.com) |access-date=2022-08-07}} married Dr. Robert Ian Mitchell (1927–2002);{{cite web |url=https://www.legacy.com/ca/obituaries/theglobeandmail/name/robert-mitchell-obituary?id=40544967 |title=Robert Ian Mitchell |work=The Globe and Mail (via Legacy.com) |access-date=2022-08-07}}{{cite web |url=https://www.genealogiequebec.com/necro/obituary/928808-MITCHELL-Robert-Ian |title=Robert Ian MITCHELL |access-date=2018-08-08}} six children:{{cite web |url=https://www.fraserinstitute.org/barbara-mitchell |title=Barbara Mitchell |work=Fraser Institute |date=12 March 2015 |access-date=2018-08-07}}
- Garfield Mitchell, two children
- Eliza Mitchell{{cite web |url=https://opmwire.com/galen-weston-wittington-cornell-wright-are-flush-with-billions-to-deploy/ |title=The Westons are flush with billions to deploy |work=opmwire.com |accessdate=2023-04-24}}
- Mark W. Mitchell{{cite web |url=https://www.marketscreener.com/business-leaders/Mark-Mitchell-061VKD-E/biography/ |title=Mark W. Mitchell – Biography |access-date=2018-08-08}}
- Emma Susan Mitchell, married Charles Adamo{{cite web |url=https://www.marketscreener.com/business-leaders/Emma-Adamo-0CC7FY-E/biography/ |title=Emma Susan Adamo – Biography |access-date=2018-08-08}}
- Sarah Mitchell, married Eric Siebert
- Serena Mitchell, mother of 1 child
- Garry Weston (1927–2002), married Mary Kippenberger, daughter of Major General Sir Howard Kippenberger; six children:
- Sir Guy Weston (born 1960){{London Gazette|issue=63218|supp=y|page=N2|date=31 December 2020}}
- Jana Khayat (born 1961)
- Kate Hobhouse (born 1962){{cite web |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/officers/jf4k3pe_NJSxg1a959uTzEmlaxA/appointments |title=Anna Catrina HOBHOUSE |work=Companies House |access-date=21 May 2023}}
- George G. Weston (born 1964)
- Sophia Mason (born 1966){{cite web |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/officers/5MDXXvFGZGrSehc7K9LqeFPZdPc/appointments |title=Sophia Mary WESTON |work=Companies House |access-date=21 May 2023}}
- Garth Weston (born 1969),{{cite web |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/officers/idGPdUSG1WKXumF37Gr4lj4c32A/appointments |title=Garth John WESTON |work=Companies House |access-date=21 May 2023}}
- Nancy Weston,{{cite web |url=https://tctrail.ca/people/chapter-150-members/nancy-baron/ |title=Nancy Baron |work=Trans Canada Trail |access-date=21 May 2023}} married Stanley Baron
- Wendy Weston (born 1931),{{cite web |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/officers/vDpehQ4PXeWsh5Iz6ToZ9c-GDCU/appointments |title=Mary Diane Wendy REBANKS |work=Companies House |access-date=21 May 2023}} married Leslie Rebanks{{cite web |url=https://loranscholar.ca/supporters/wendy-rebanks/ |title=Wendy Rebanks |work=Loran Scholars Foundation |accessdate=2023-04-24}}
- Tamara Rebanks, married James Appleyard{{cite web |url=https://www.boursierloran.ca/supporters/tamara-rebanks-james-appleyard-2/ |title=James Appleyard & Tamara Rebanks |work=Loran Scholars Foundation |accessdate=2023-04-24}}
- Claudia Rebanks,{{cite web |url=https://www.nextcanada.com/claudia-hepburn/ |title=Claudia Hepburn |work=NEXT Canada |accessdate=2023-04-24}}{{cite web |url=https://financialpost.com/entrepreneur/presidents-choice-establishment-funds-entrepreneur-incubator |title=President's Choice: Establishment funds entrepreneur incubator |work=Financial Post |accessdate=2023-04-24}}
- Gretchen Weston (born 1934),{{cite web |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/officers/mUMjmHdRdeGyUBTp2LzPTFnMnb8/appointments |title=Gretchen Ann BAUTA |work=Companies House |access-date=21 May 2023}} married Humberto Bauta
- Camilla Weston (born 1937),{{cite web |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/officers/jQRojCubjYP6W2CU_xXZDlbIOvk/appointments |title=Camilla Howard DALGLISH |work=Companies House |access-date=21 May 2023}} married Peter Dalglish; three children:{{cite web |url=https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/thestar/obituary.aspx?n=genevieve-dalglish&pid=185276700&fhid=9911 |title=Genevieve Dalglish Obituary |work=Toronto Star |access-date=2018-08-07}}
- Kim Dalglish, married Martin Abell
- Geordie Dalglish, married Swith Bell
- Genevieve Dalglish (1970–2017)
- Galen Weston (1940–2021), married Hilary Frayne (born 1942); two children:
- Alannah Weston (born 1972),{{cite web |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/officers/kjwM5tvsYfXMJqVhwArZJXdVXC4/appointments |title=Alannah Weston |work=Companies House |access-date=December 4, 2021}} married Alexander Cochrane,{{cite news |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/relationships/retail-princess-alannah-weston-a-maverick-impresario/article4349764/ |title=Retail princess Alannah Weston, a maverick impresario |work=The Globe and Mail |date=15 December 2010 |accessdate=2021-04-22|last1=Hampson |first1=Sarah }} elder son of Sir Marc Cochrane, 4th Baronet
- Galen Weston Jr. (born 1972),{{cite web |url=https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/officers/3zbE4JfyTDMVXV-pv_dLQw8r77o/appointments |title=Willard Galen Garfield Weston |work=Companies House |access-date=2019-05-04}} married Alexandra Schmidt, granddaughter of Thomas J. Bata{{cite web |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/the-weston-family-empire-expands-again-1.1313575 |title=The Weston family empire expands again |work=CBC News |date=July 16, 2013 |access-date=April 21, 2021 }}
See also
- Garfield Weston Foundation (based in the United Kingdom)
- Weston Family Foundation (based in Canada)
References
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Category:Canadian businesspeople