W. Galen Weston, a retail magnate and head of Canada’s affluent Weston family, has sadly departed at the age of 80, as confirmed by a family statement on Tuesday.
Weston, the third-generation leader of George Weston Limited, expanded his family’s already thriving retail empire. The family-controlled enterprise, now overseen by his son, Galen Weston, boasts ownership of UK-based retail giants Primark and Selfridges. Additionally, it holds stakes in major Canadian businesses, including the Loblaw Co Ltd grocery chain, Shoppers Drug Mart pharmacy chain, and Choice Properties real estate company.
Weston’s passing occurred peacefully at his residence after an extended illness, according to the family statement. Born in Buckinghamshire, England, he relocated to Dublin at the age of 21, where he met his spouse, Irish model Hilary Frayne. The couple tied the knot in 1966.
With financial backing from his grandmother, Weston embarked on a journey that led to the establishment of a group of retailers in Ireland, one of which eventually evolved into the globally recognized Primark brand.
During the 1970s, Weston returned to Canada to resuscitate his family’s ailing Loblaws supermarket chain. His strategic vision helped elevate Loblaws into one of the country’s largest food distribution companies.
«In our business and in his life, he built a legacy of extraordinary accomplishment and joy,» said Galen Weston, Chairman, and CEO of George Weston Ltd.
«The luxury retail industry has lost a great visionary,» remarked Alannah Weston, Weston Sr.’s daughter and Chairman of Selfridges Group.
The Weston family is among the wealthiest in Canada, with Forbes estimating their combined wealth at $8.7 billion.
