Wednesday 20 March 2024
07:45
Tom Athron
Fortnum's - the home of extraordinary food and drink
Tom is quietly leading the reinvention of Fortnum’s, British retail institution and grocer to the Royal Family since 1707, into a modern, relevant, forward-looking luxury brand centred on extraordinary food and drink. Over breakfast in the innovative Food and Drink Studio on the newly revamped 3rd Floor, Tom will join us to talk about what it takes to transform a heritage brand and put it squarely at the heart of London’s thriving food scene.
After a career in investment banking and strategy consulting, Tom spent 6 years as CFO at Waitrose, and 2 years as COO at Matchesfashion, before joining Fortnum and Mason as CEO during the 2020 lockdowns. The business has grown by more than 60% since he joined, and is now profitable again after a period of losses through COVID. Fortnum’s now trades from its Piccadilly flagship (now part-way through a 10 year investment programme including the stunning Food and Drink Studio on the 3rd Floor), three satellite stores in London and a further two in Hong Kong, and last month opened at Dubai International Airport. Its online channel now accounts for over a third of its retail sales, 20% of which is delivered to international customers.
CEO of Fortum & Mason
After a career in investment banking and strategy consulting, Tom spent 6 years as CFO at Waitrose, and 2 years as COO at Matchesfashion, before joining Fortnum and Mason as CEO during the 2020 lockdowns. The business has grown by more than 60% since he joined, and is now profitable again after a period of losses through COVID. Fortnum’s now trades from its Piccadilly flagship (now part-way through a 10 year investment programme including the stunning Food and Drink Studio on the 3rd Floor), three satellite stores in London and a further two in Hong Kong, and last month opened at Dubai International Airport. Its online channel now accounts for over a third of its retail sales, 20% of which is delivered to international customers.
