Julian Metcalfe
Julian Edward Metcalfe OBE is a British entrepreneur and founder of food retailers Pret a Manger, Itsu, and Metcalfe's Food Company.
According to the Sunday Times Rich List in 2019, Metcalfe is worth £215 million, an increase of £51 million from 2018.Early life
Metcalfe is the grandson of Edward Dudley Metcalfe, MVO, MC, an officer in the British Indian Army and a close friend and equerry of Edward VIII. One of his great-grandfathers was George Curzon, 1st Marquess Curzon of Kedleston, a Governor-General of India, and a great-grandmother was the American heiress Mary Curzon, Baroness Curzon of Kedleston.
Metcalfe was educated at Harrow School in north-west London. He later attended the Polytechnic of Central London, where he first met his later business partner, Sinclair Beecham.Career
Metcalfe founded Pret a Manger, the popular sandwich shop with college friend Sinclair Beecham in 1986. In May 2018, Pret was bought for £1.5 billion, and Metcalfe's stake was valued at £75 million.
Metcalfe founded itsu in 1997. He currently owns 54% of the company.
Metcalfe founded Metcalfe's Food Company in 2008. It sells Asian inspired food under the brand name itsu and a range of snack food under the brand name Metcalfe’s skinny.
Metcalfe's skinny snack food Metcalfe's Skinny Topcorn is a popular brand of popcorn in the United Kingdom.
In September 2016, Metcalfe sold his interests in Metcalfes Skinny in full to Kettle Foods owner Snyder's-Lance.
Already a Member of the Order of the British Empire, he was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the 2014 Birthday Honours for services to the hospitality industry.
