Boss of Deeside based Iceland Foods receives Knighthood in Queen’s birthday honours list

Arise Sir Malcolm Walker – The founder of Deeside-based Iceland frozen food chain has been knighted in the Queen’s birthday honours list.

Iceland Chief Executive Malcolm Walker CBE receives the honour for services to retailing, entrepreneurship and charity

A successful entrepreneur since his schooldays he founded Iceland and chaired the business through 30 years of growth, the firm currently operates has around 800 stores employing over 23,000 people.

Mr Walker has also been instrumental in raising millions for Dementia research through the UCL Dementia Retail Partnership

In May 2015, he called upon the support of fellow retailers to help raise the funds needed to create a new UCL Dementia Research Institute – which will have everything it needs to fight one of the biggest medical challenges of the 21st century.

His idea to use the carrier bag levy to help develop a world class Dementia Research Institute in the UK came up over a pub lunch with prominent dementia expert, Professor Nick Fox.

It’s a cause close to the Malcolm Walkers heart, his wife Rhianydd was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s six years ago.

Mr Walker called upon the support of fellow retailers Asda, Morrisons and Waitrose to get behind the campaign and support the project with money raised from the 5p carrier bag charge, and through staff and customer fundraising.

UCL Dementia Retail Partnership has raised a staggering £10million in its first year for UCL Dementia Research – equivalent to the sale of around 200 million carrier bags.