John Sainsbury, shopkeeper ‘to his core’, dies aged 94

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John Sainsbury, the former chairman of the supermarket chain, has died at the age of 94. Lord Sainsbury of Preston Candover was the president of Sainsbury’s and also sat in the House of Lords as a Conservative.

The supermarket’s current chairman and chief executive, Martin Scicluna, announced the death on Friday evening, saying he had lived a “remarkable life”.

“We are all deeply saddened to learn of the death of our life president, Lord Sainsbury of Preston Candover. He was 94 and lived a remarkable life.

“During his 40-year career with the company, Lord Sainsbury led the business through a period of great change and had a major impact on retail in the UK in the 20th century.”

John Sainsbury began working in his family’s business in 1950, initially taking on a role in the grocery department before becoming a director in 1958, followed by deputy chairman in 1967 – a role which he took over from his father. Then in 1969, he was appointed chairman and chief executive which he held until his retirement in 1992.

Scicluna said: “Under his stewardship we modernised our stores, developed our food ranges and floated Sainsbury’s on the London Stock Exchange in what was, at the time, the UK’s largest-ever initial public offering.

“He was knighted by Her Majesty the Queen in 1980 for services to the food retailing industry, made a life peer in 1989 and in 1992 was appointed as one of only 24 Knights of the Garter.

“In recent years he hosted a visit by Her Majesty the Queen to celebrate the 150th anniversary of our business. He will be greatly missed by the board and all his friends and colleagues at Sainsbury’s.

“We send our condolences to Lord Sainsbury’s wife, Lady Sainsbury, and the rest of the Sainsbury family.”

Scicluna added that Lord Sainsbury was a shopkeeper “to his core and one of the great retailers of his time”.

“He was ambitious for the company and led Sainsbury’s through an unprecedented period of growth; he was a truly inspirational man.

“While he will be missed by many, his huge contribution to Sainsbury’s and the values he cared about and believed in so much will remain alive at the heart of our business.”

With the Press Association