Clarke, Andy - The man who brought Asda to Grantham

Andy Clarke (1965- )

ANDREW Clarke was the man responsible for bringing ASDA to Grantham.

His dad John was the village policeman in Great Gonerby.

He firstly went to Gonerby Hill Foot School.

After leaving the King’s School with what he describes as a “miserable set of results”, Andy was sponsored by the former Fine Fare store in Castlegate where he had a Saturday job.

He said: “I played lots of water polo at school under the coach Jim Caulfield who bashed us into shape and I’m certain his influence on me has helped in business – plenty of competitive spirit.”

Andy also played for Kesteven Rugby Club enjoying many seasons in the first team with his brothers Matt and Nick.

After leaving school he had a summer job at Tony’s Cafe, Gonerby Moor, where his duties included mopping the loos.

He later worked for Morrison’s and became manager at Newark.

He was elevated to the top job at Asda, Britain’s second biggest grocer in May 2010, succeeding fellow King’s School old boy Andy Bond, as Chief Operating Officer.

He resigned from Asda in 2016 and the following year became non-executive chairman of Spoon Guru, a small technology start-up which allows consumers to search retailers’ produce according to their specific dietary needs.

Since stepping down from Asda, Mr Clarke has developed a portfolio career. He is currently chairman of operational performance specialist Newton Europe, chairman of Leeds-Bradford Airport, chairman of independent pharmaceutical company Immodulon Therapeutics, chairman of retail technology business Spoon Guru and adviser to food supplier Albert Bartlett.

An advocate for plastics reform, Mr Clarke has been active in driving practical change and public debate through the media. He is an advisor to A Plastic Planet and his retail focused projects have included the campaign for ‘A Plastics Free Aisle’.