Sir Alistair's legacy to grocery Clive Beddall The death of former Safeway chairman Sir Alistair Grant, at the relatively young age of 63, leaves the UK food and drink industry without one of its most charismatic visionaries. His death was not unexpected. Ill health forced him to resign as governor of the Bank of Scotland two years ago and as chairman of Scottish and Newcastle Breweries last year. He finally lost a four-year fight against cancer at the Royal Marsden Hospital, London, on Monday. A highly talented and innovative executive, his grocery career began as a Unilever trainee at the Batchelors soup plant in Sheffield in 1958, where he met his wife. His new father-in-law des-cribed him as a "fast talking pea salesman". After two years as a J Lyons brand manager and a spell in advertising, his career took its most significant turn. Aged 30, he responded to an advertisement from the legendary James Gulliver, then running Garfield Weston's Fine Fare chain. Gulliver picked Sir Alistair as his marketing director and so began an association which was one of the most significant in grocery history. The unlikely relationship between the abrasive, four times married Gulliver and the affable Grant lasted 18 years. Gulliver left the Weston group in 1972 and with Grant and David Webster (now Safeway's chairman), formed Gulliver Associates ­ later to become Argyll Foods, then the UK's largest food and drinks group. Between 1977 and 1983 Argyll hit the acquisition trail buying, among others, Sir James Goldsmith's Allied Suppliers chain and the Louis Edwards meat business. However, a much publicised failed takeover of Distillers in 1986 put an end to the Grant-Gulliver duo. Gulliver left Argyll and in 1987 Grant and Webster bought the British Safeway operation from its American parent. The company changed its name to Safeway in 1996 and a year later Grant retired as chairman. Friends say that if he had one regret it was that he never went to university. Yet his food and scientific sector interests were numerous. Through the Strathcylde Project, it was Sir Alistair who laid the foundations for the closer working relationships which characterise the food chain in Britain today. Sir Alistair was also a past president of the National Grocers Benevolent Fund. But he will be remembered best for those 11 years during which he took Safeway into the top three in the UK retailing league. And it's a testimony to his inspirational people skills that so many present and former Safeway staff have telephoned The Grocer this week to pay tribute to his memory. The food and drink industries will miss him greatly. He was unique. Sir Alistair is survived by his wife, Judith, two sons and a daughter. A private funeral will be held in Scotland on Monday and a memorial service will be arranged later. PEER'S tribute to A great knight On hearing the news of Sir Alistair's death, former Tesco chairman Lord MacLaurin told The Grocer: "I'm shattered. I've lost a really good mate." MacLaurin revealed that Sir Alistair beat him to the takeover of Safeway's UK operation in 1987. But he added: "Despite the fact that we were competitors ­ I was chairman of Tesco when he was chairman at Safeway ­ I always regarded him as an astute businessman with a wonderful brain and great vision. "We joined the trade at the same time. I always felt at home in his company, which reflects the grocery trade at the time in as good a light as it has ever had." Safeway chairman David Webster said: "I will always remember Alistair's clear vision, energy, drive and inspirational leadership. I have lost a true friend." {{NEWS }}

Topics