James Wattie
Sir James Wattie CBE (23 March 1902 – 8 June 1974) was a New Zealand clerk, accountant, company manager, industrialist, philanthropist and race-horse owner.
Wattie was born in Hawarden, New Zealand in 1902.[1] In 1934, he founded food processing company Wattie's. Wattie had a reputation for his humility and friendliness towards his staff, with his constant effort to look after and understand his staff's problems. Upon his death in 1974, his company and workplace philosophies were carried on by his sons, Gordon and Raymond. Since 1992 the company has been owned by H. J. Heinz Company which is one of the world's leading food manufacturing companies.
In 1953, Wattie was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal.[2] In the 1963 New Year Honours, he was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire, for services to the process food industry.[3] Wattie was made a Knight Bachelor in the 1966 Queen's Birthday Honours, for services to industry and the export trade.[4] His horse Even Stevens won the 1962 Melbourne Cup.
In 1994, Wattie was posthumously inducted into the New Zealand Business Hall of Fame.[5]
References[edit]
- ^ Boyd, Mary. "James Wattie". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
- ^ "Coronation Medal" (PDF). Supplement to the New Zealand Gazette. No. 37. 3 July 1953. pp. 1021–1035. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
- ^ "No. 42872". The London Gazette (Supplement). 28 December 1962. p. 40.
- ^ "No. 44006". The London Gazette (3rd supplement). 11 June 1966. p. 6571.
- ^ "Past laureates". Business Hall of Fame. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
 | This business-related New Zealand biographical article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
- 1902 births
- 1974 deaths
- New Zealand philanthropists
- New Zealand racehorse owners and breeders
- 20th-century New Zealand businesspeople
- New Zealand Commanders of the Order of the British Empire
- New Zealand Knights Bachelor
- Businesspeople awarded knighthoods
- 20th-century philanthropists
- New Zealand business biography stubs