A statement from Morrisons read: ‘The company has been informed by the Morrison family of the very sad news of the passing of Life President, and former Chairman, Sir Ken Morrison CBE. Sir Ken was an inspirational retailer who led Morrisons for more than half a century, transforming the company from a small family business into the UK’s fourth largest food retailer.At his retirement in 2008, Morrisons had 375 stores, serving over nine million customers a week.
Sir Ken will be greatly missed by many thousands of his current and former colleagues, a large number of whom became close personal friends over the years.
Sir Ken was Morrisons Chairman until 2008. He was awarded the CBE in 1990 and knighted in the Millennium New Year’s Honours list for his services to the food retailing industry.
Widely considered one of Britain’s finest retailers, Sir Ken developed the culture, values and clear direction for the business which remain the bedrock of the firm today. His legacy includes many enduring innovations, such as Market Street and Morrisons unique vertical integration model.
Andrew Higginson, the current Chairman of Morrisons, said: “I know that I speak for the whole company when I say how profoundly sad we were to hear of Sir Ken’s death. He was an inspirational leader and the driving force behind Morrisons for over half a century. Although he retired several years ago, his legacy is evident every day and in every aspect of our business.
“Taking Morrisons from a small Bradford-based family business to a major UK grocery retailing chain is an outstanding achievement in the history of UK business. On a personal level, Ken was an enormous help to me as we made some significant changes to set the business on a new course; his knowledge of retail and his strategic insights have remained as relevant and intuitive as they were when he first built the business.
“Ken will be remembered by us all for his leadership, his passion for retailing and for his great love of Morrisons. To honour his memory in the most appropriate way we can, we will continue to develop the company that he built and loved.
“We will miss his friendship and his wise counsel very deeply, and our thoughts are with his family at this difficult time.”‘
A tribute from Clive Black, Director, Head of Research at Shore Capital, read:
‘It is with immense sadness, and we have to say heartfelt appreciation and gratitude, that we have learnt of the passing of Sir Ken Morrison CBE.
Sir Ken is one the most distinguished businessmen that we have had the pleasure of knowing. His story is one of remarkable achievement, taking a small family business in West Yorkshire to become a national grocery institution. Without Sir Ken many hundreds of thousands of British families and businesses would not have had their working and commercial livelihoods; many folks will be thankful to him this day.
His character, with its lovely quirkiness and idiosyncrasy, is written large in the Morrison business today; traits that we are pleased to see the current CEO, David Potts CBE, keep alive and kicking.
‘Sir Ken had a great empathy with shoppers, unwavering high standards, a huge retailing imagination, a naughty sense of humour and just a proper way of doing things that many will say is sadly too lacking these days. His passing is an immense loss to an industry and a country, in fact, for which few are held in higher regard.
‘We are sure that there will be an understandable dark cloud hanging over the Morrison business today, epitomised by Chairman Andrew Higginson’s comment that the organisation is ‘profoundly sad’ to hear of the loss of their Founder and Life President. However, from this shock and sense of grief, we can all also clearly see Sir Ken’s achievements and celebrate what was a quite stunningly brilliant career.
Finally, Shore Capital is very proud to serve Wm. Morrison Supermarkets as a broker. We would like to express our sincere thanks for the support that Sir Ken has given to us as individuals and in business over many years and to express our condolences to his family at this very difficult time.
Rest in peace the truly great Sir Ken Morrison.’