W. Garfield Weston
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Willard Garfield Weston (January 26, 1898 - October 22, 1978), was a Canadian businessman and philanthropist. Born in Toronto, Garfield Weston served with the Canadian Army during World War I and was part of the Canadian Expeditionary Force sent to the battlefields of France.
His father, George Weston (1864-1924), owned a small chain of Ontario-based bakeries that at age twenty-six Garfield Weston took over on his fathers death. As president and general manager, he transformed George Weston Limited into an international food conglomerate. In 1935, he expanded operations into Great Britain with the founding of Associated British Foods and set up operations in South Africa, Australia, and Europe. In 1943, Weston diversified into pulp and paper with the acquisition of a controlling interest in the E.B. Eddy Company. In 1947, Weston acquired Loblaw Companies and built it into the largest chain of supermarkets in Canada.
During his lifetime, Garfield Weston contributed to numerous humanitarian causes both personally and through his companies. His philanthropic works continue through the W. Garfield Weston Foundation he established in 1959.
Of Irish ancestry, Weston purchased Barretstown Castle at Ballymore Eustace, County Kildare that he bequeathed to the State.
On January 11, 1978 W. Garfield Weston was made an Officer of the Order of Canada and in recognition of his significant contribution to Canada's economic prosperity, he was inducted posthumously into the Canadian Business Hall of Fame following its creation in 1979.
Gaerfield Weston died in Toronto in 1978. The father of three sons and five daughters, son Galen Weston succeeded him at the helm of George Weston Limited, son Garry Weston took over the running of Associated British Foods, and Grainger Weston took over Weston Properties, a real estate holding company.
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