Company History

Raoul Amar came to Britain from France in the late 1930's. In 1945, he borrowed £2,000 and set up his own business to act as an importer of French grocery products.

Based in Holborn Viaduct, in the City of London, the company flourished in the late 1940's. Food was scarce in the aftermath of the Second World War, and Raoul Amar set up a buying office in his former home city of Marseille to seek out suppliers for the British market.

In the 1950's, as food rationing came to an end and competition intensified, many small importers, who had set up after the war, went to the wall. R.H. Amar & Co. Ltd. survived, and began to source grocery products from other European countries, from the USA, Africa and the Caribbean.

Raoul's son, Henry, joined the business in 1960. During the ensuing decade R.H. Amar moved increasingly from general grocery towards speciality foods, and in so doing planted the seeds of future success.

In January 1972, R.H. Amar moved from London to Amersham, and in the years that followed the company emerged as one of Britain's leading fine food importers.

Raoul Amar died in January 1983. John Barrow became the first non-family Director, and with Henry Amar successfully transferred the company to much larger premises in Raans Road, Amersham. The move enabled R.H. Amar to embark on a period of sustained growth, gradually enlarging its clientele to include many of Britain's leading supermarkets, wholesalers and foodservice distributors.

David Mellor joined the company, as Sales Director, in 1987, setting up a national sales force to handle the company's expanding portfolio of food brands. Mike Egan, during his nine years on the Board, refined the company's logistical operation. Two members of the family, Henry's wife, Ruth, and sister, Maureen, became active in the firm.

By 1996, R.H. Amar & Co. Ltd. had outgrown its Raans Road site, and moved to its present purpose-built headquarters in High Wycombe. With Henry Amar now Chairman, David Mellor as Chief Executive, five other executive Directors and a staff of more than 50 persons, R.H. Amar now serves virtually every substantial grocery outlet in Britain. The company represents some 35 fine food brands - many of which are leaders in their category.

In 2001, a third generation entered the business, when Henry's son, Robert, joined the company his grandfather had founded 56 years earlier. Rob became a Board member in April 2008.

In 2005, R.H. Amar celebrated its 60th anniversary.

Raoul Amar, founder                                  Robert Amar, third generation