Iceland CEO Tarsem Dhaliwal and Andy Street, the former managing director of John Lewis, are among the standout names from the fmcg and retail sector honoured in the King’s New Year Honours List.
Street, who was also mayor of the West Midlands from 2017 to 2024, was knighted for his contribution to public service. Dhaliwal, who co-owns the Iceland Foods Group, received an OBE for his services to the Welsh economy, retail and charity.
Other high-profile names honoured for their contribution to retail, food safety and international exports included Defra permanent secretary Tamara Finkelstein, who was made a dame for contributions to public service. Younis Chaudhry, CEO of Regal Foods Group, was awarded an MBE for services to business and his local community in Bradford.
“When I started in business over 20 years ago, nothing would have prepared me for the journey I have been on, both in business and in life,” Chaudhry said.
“The community in where I live and where I have built my business is everything to me and I am humbled to be a part of it.
“I am honoured to work with around 300 people who make up my brilliant team at Regal Food Products Group, I thank each and every one of them for joining me in my Regal journey and for working with me in building the great food group you see today.”
Several smaller business owners were also honoured, including Duncan Farrington, founder of Farrington Oils, who received an MBE for services to agriculture and the food and drink industry. Victoria Robertshaw, who founded Keelham Farm Shop in North Yorkshire, received an OBE for services to the retail sector. It was due to her work on the Green Street, a project designed to help small retailers scale at pace.
Following high profile outcry over the Post Office scandal, several postmasters and people involved in seeking justice for postmasters were honoured in the list. It included sub postmaster Jo Hamilton, who received an OBE alongside former Computer Weekly journalist Rebecca Thomson who first broke the story.
See the list in full:
Dame Commander of the order of the Bath (DCB)
Tamara Finkelstein, permanent secretary of Defra, for public service
Knighthood
Andy Street, for contributions to public service
CBE
Annika Bosanquet, co-founder of luxury packaging agency Wrapology
OBE
Tarsem Dhaliwal, CEO of Iceland Foods, for services to the Welsh economy, retail and charity
John Evans, executive chair of coffee company Beanies, for services to entrepreneurship
David Gott, who headed the FSA’s toxicology team for 20 years, for services to food safety
George McIvor, chef and founder of The Full Range, for services to catering and tourism
Victoria Robertshaw, for services to the retail sector
Steve Wearne, director of global affairs at the FSA, for services tro public health protection and international food safety
MBE
Younis Chaudhry, CEO of Regal Foods Group, for services to business and his local community in Bradford.
Duncan Farrington, founder of Farrington Oils, for services to agriculture and the food and drink industry
Kan Koo, CEO of Cosmo Restaurant Group, for services to the hospitality industry
Dr William Lumsden, director of distilling, whisky creation and whisky stocks, The Glenmorangie Company, for services to the scotch whisky industry
Johnny McDowell, founder Indie Füde, for services to the food and drink industry in Northern Ireland
Niall McKenna, chef and owner, James St and Waterman House, for services to hospitality, tourism and to local food and drink producers in Northern Ireland
Bill Toner, CEO CH&CO, for services to the hospitality sector
Alexandria and Dominic Warren, co-founders of Dom’s Food Mission, for services to the eradication of food waste and poverty
Bee Wilson, food writer and journalist, for services to food writing and food education
Medallists for the Order of the British Empire
Anne Croucher, community champion Tesco and volunteer, for services to the community in Dumfries & Galloway
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