William Grant family wealthiest in UK spirits

The family owners of Scotland-based William Grant & Sons have retained their title as the richest people in the UK spirits industry, according to The Sunday Times Rich List 2016.

Glenfiddich Scotch whisky producer William Grant & Sons is the richest family in the UK spirits industry

Led by fifth generation family member Glenn Grant-Gordon, William Grant & Sons produces the Glenfiddich single malt Scotch whisky, Hendrick’s Gin, and Sailor Jerry rum brands, among others.

In 2014/15, the group reported record profits of £139.8m, however sales dipped from more than £1bn to £933.2m due to a “planned reduction” in the distribution of third party brands.

Long deemed the world’s best-selling single malt Scotch whisky before The Glenlivet usurped the title last year, Glenfiddich announced plans for a “multi-million pound” expansion of its Speyside distillery.

The Sunday Times Rich List estimates that the Grant-Gordon family is worth £2.16bn, a rise of £10m compared to last year, ranking the family at 49^th place in the countdown of the UK’s 1,000 wealthiest people.

An annual supplement, the Rich List charts rises and falls in the net worths of the UK’s super-rich and includes only people or families worth £100 million or more.

Click through the following pages to view which other people and families are deemed the richest in the UK spirits industry.

6. Malcolm and Duncan MacKinnon and family

Worth: £104m

Rank in The Sunday Times Rich List 2016: 978

The MacKinnon family owned Scotch whisky liqueur Drambuie for 100 years until the brand was sold to William Grant & Sons in September 2014. While the cost of the acquisition was not disclosed, the family, led by brothers Malcolm and Duncan, significantly boosted their net worth, which now sits at £104m.

5. John Rudd & family

Worth: £110m

Rank in The Sunday Times Rich List 2016: 885

Led by John Rudd, London-based Berry Bros & Rudd is Britain’s oldest wine and spirits merchant. Established in 1698, the company largely handles wine, but sells spirits including The Glenrothes Scotch whisky and No.3 London Dry Gin, and also bottles its own line of spirits.

4. Charles Rolls

Worth: £133m

Rank in The Sunday Times Rich List 2016: 764

Previously known for relaunching Pernod Ricard’s Plymouth Gin brand, Charles Rolls has amassed a fortune for premium tonic brand Fever Tree, which he co-founded. According to The Sunday Times, since floating on the stock exchange in 2014, Fever Tree’s share price has soared, netting Rolls more than £17m.

3. Aaron and Tania Hillman and family

Worth: £175m

Rank in The Sunday Times Rich List 2016: 598

Led by brother and sister Aaron and Tania Hillman, the Hillman family owns Angus Dundee Distillers, which produces whisky from its Speyside-based Tomintoul and Eastern Highlands-based Glencadam distilleries. A focus on international markets helped the company turnover £55m last year.

2. Vivian Imerman

Worth: £385m

Rank in The Sunday Times Rich List 2016: 291

In 2014, Vivian Imerman, born in Johannesburg but based in London, made millions from the sale of Scotch whisky business Whyte & Mackay, which he ran as CEO until its acquisition by United Spirits in 2007. The business was bought by Philippines-based Emperador for an estimated £430m. The Sunday Times attributes his £30m rise in net worth to the sale of a Mayfair property for £90m last year.

1. The Grant-Gordon family

Worth: £2.16bn

Rank in The Sunday Times Rich List 2016: 49

By far the richest family in the UK spirits industry, the Grant-Gordon family owns Glenfiddich Scotch whisky maker William Grant & Sons. With a £10m increase in net worth, the firm is now targeting “continued growth” in the US.