The UK’s top 5 richest people spirits
The family owners of William Grant & Sons have been named the richest people in the UK’s spirits industry, but which others are included in the top five?
These are the top five riches people in the UK’s spirits industry, as identified by The Sunday Times Rich List 2014The Sunday Times Rich List 2014 yesterday named the wealthiest people in the UK, across all sectors and industries.
Members of the Grant Gordon family, who own spirits business William Grant & Sons, were named the richest people in the UK’s spirits industry, as well as the richest people currently living in Scotland.
According to the list, the wealthiest 1,000 people in Britain today, including 104 billionaires, are worth £518.9 billion, an increase of 15.4% compared to last year’s total.
It also shows that throughout the UK combined, the richest 1,000 saw their wealth increase by 15.4%.
Wealth expert, Philip Beresford, said that Britain’s richest had experienced an “astonishing year” and that he had never seen such a “phenomenal” rise in personal fortune.
Click through the following pages to see more information about the wealth of the Grant Gordon family and which other spirits powerhouses The Sunday Times identified as the richest in the UK’s spirits industry.
Do you have any thoughts on this new spirits rich list? Let us know by leaving a comment below.
5. The Macdonald family
The Macdonald family, former owner of the Glenmorangie Scotch whisky distillery, were named the fifth richest people in the UK’s spirits industry, boasting a combined wealth of £80 million.
Glenmornagie was put on the market in 2004 after the company’s largest shareholder, the Macdonald family, announced their desire to sell their stake in the Ross-shire-based company.
It was bought for £100 by French luxury goods company Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy (LVMH) for £100 million.
The takeover was seen as particularly dramatic at the time as it followed a bidding withdrawal from main rival Pernod Ricard.
This allowed LVMH, which was predominantly known for its Champagne brands, to move into dark spirits.
4. John Rudd and family
The owners of Britain’s oldest wine and spirits merchant Berry Bros & Rudd, John Rudd and his family, came in fourth on the list with a reported wealth of £120 million.
Berry Bros lost £7.3m in 2012-13, but is still worth £112m. Other assets owned by the family made up the further eight million.
The company, led by John Rudd, 87, has been in the family since 1698.
3. Aaron and Tania Hillman and family
Brother and sister powerhouse duo Aaron and Tania Hillman, aged 49 and 51 respectively, owners of whisky distiller and exporter Angus Dundee, are worth £200m.
The company made a record £19.9m profit in 2012-13 after its Tomintoul and Glencadam whisky distilleries experienced sales of £59m.
This demonstrated a massive increase of £50 million profits compared to the period 2011-12.
Angus Dundee exports to more than 70 countries around the world.
2. Vivian Imerman
Vivian Imerman, 58, former co-owner and CEO of whisky firm Whyte & Mackay, has landed second spot on the countdown, with a wealth of £355m.
A significant part of this fortune would have undoubtedly come from the sale of canned food group Del Monte last year.
However, Imerman’s wealth also derived from the sale of Whyte & Mackay to India’s United Spirits for £595 million.
It was revealed in February this year that Imerman had acquired a majority stake in South African spirits business TNB, through his investment company Vasari Global.
1. The Grant-Gordon family
By far the richest spirits people in the UK’s spirits industry is the Grant-Gordon family, owner of William Grant & Sons, with a wealth of £1.9 billion.
The company, chaired by Glenn Grant-Gordon, owns the Glenfiddich Scotch whisky, Sailor Jerry rum and Hendrick’s gin, among others.
It experienced a colossal £500m rise in wealth during 2012-13, while its profits rose to £152.5m in 2012.
As well as being the richest family in the UK spirits industry, the Grant Gordons also topped The Sunday Times Scottish Rich List.
