Sir Ken Morrison, the Life President and former chairman of Morrison Supermarkets PLC, the fourth largest group supermarket group in Britain has died aged 85 after a short illness, his family has said.

The family also said he died peacefully at home.

Ken Morrison was pivotal in the growing of his family business into becoming one of UK’s biggest supermarkets. The chain was initially founded by his parents William Murdoch Morrison and Hilda Morrison in 1899, where it began as an egg and butter stall in Rawson Market, Bradford.

At 21, Ken Morrison joined the company in 1952 shortly after he had finished National Service, and just four years later became chairman and managing director.

He lived on the outskirts of York, in Myton Hall, North Yorkshire, with his wife Lynne, and his two youngest children.