Goodbye, Mr McChips: Founder of McCain frozen food empire dies

Goodbye, Mr McChips: Founder of McCain frozen food empire dies

The founder of the multi-billion-pound McCain chip empire that bears his name has died at the age of 81.

Wallace McCain founded the Canadian company in a small factory in 1956 along with his brother Harrison.

It grew into one of the world's biggest food companies, employing 2,000 food people in Britain.



'Generous': McCain Foods co-founder Wallace McCain, who died this week at 81, donated much of his wealth to good causes

Wallace amassed a personal fortune of £1.4billion, but he also donated much of his wealth to good causes, once saying: 'I liked making money, but I love giving it away more.'

Former Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin paid tribute to the frozen food mogul in a statement today.



Harrison McCain: He co-founded the frozen food giant with his brother Wallace in 1956, but 40 years later the pair had a bitter failling out, with Wallace forced from the company

'What he built in business is now part of our history,' Mr Martin said.

'But what should be known as well was his infectious sense of humor, his compassion and his generosity to so many causes dedicated to making the lives of Canadians better.'


In 1994, Wallace was forced out as joint chief of the company he founded after a bitter public feud with his brother, who died in 1994.


Wallace became an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1995, one of the nation's highest honours.


Wallace died in Toronto after a 14-month battle with pancreatic cancer, leaving his wife Margaret, four children and nine grandchildren.