biography
| name: |
Sainsbury (of Drury Lane), Alan John Sainsbury, Baron
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pronunciation:
[saynzbree]
| sex:
| male
|
| lived:
| (1902–98)
|
| biography:
| Retailer, born in London, UK, the son of John Benjamin Sainsbury and Mabel Van den Bergh, whose family of Dutch-Jewish origin had made a fortune from the manufacture of margarine. Educated at Haileybury, in 1921 he joined the family grocery business, founded by his grandparents in 1869. A pioneer of supermarket- and own-brand trading, he opened the first self-service store in 1950, in Croydon. He became chairman (1956–67), and joint president of J Sainsbury plc with his younger brother, Sir Robert (1906–2000). He was created a life peer in 1962. His elder son, Sir John Davan (1927– ), now Lord Sainsbury of Preston Candover, was chairman of the company, 1969–92. Sir Robert's son, David John (1940– ), now Lord Sainsbury of Turnville, became deputy chairman in 1988, and chairman and chief executive in 1992. In 1995 Sainsbury's became the first British supermarket to sell its products through the Internet. The family is renowned for many philanthropic trusts and for its support of the arts and education. |
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