Death of Bill Capper CBE announced by SPAR

Bill Capper, former managing director of Capper & Co and a former chairman of the National Guild of SPAR, has died.

Based in Glamorgan, Capper & Co was established in 1901 as a grocery wholesaler and became the SPAR wholesaler for South Wales in 1959. Bill’s father, John, was one of the founding directors of SPAR in the UK.

Capper (pictured) began his career with SPAR in 1964, joining the family business after university. Four years later, at the age of 25, he took over as managing director following the untimely death of his father. Under his leadership, the company grew to service 500 SPAR stores, covering areas from South Wales to Gloucester, Oxfordshire, Sussex, Kent, and south of the River Thames.

Capper served two terms as chairman of the National Guild of SPAR and in 2006, he became the executive chairman of Capper & Co. After the acquisition of Capper & Co by AF Blakemore & Son Ltd in 2011, he joined the AF Blakemore board of directors, retiring in 2016 after 51 years with SPAR.

In recognition of his contributions to business and the community in Wales, he was awarded a CBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in 2006.

A SPAR spokesperson said: “Bill was universally admired by SPAR members, both in the UK and internationally, as well as by those in the wider retail industry. A pioneer in the convenience sector, he was a respected businessman and a prominent figure in the Welsh business community.

“Within SPAR, Bill was known for his wisdom and his advocacy for the benefits of collaboration. He played a vital role in the success and survival of independent retailing through his leadership as chairman of Capper & Co and during his time as chairman of the National Guild of SPAR. He represented and led his family business with distinction and was a passionate supporter of SPAR and its values.”

Capper is survived by his wife Heather, four daughters, and their families.