After a career mainly in the Fresh Produce industry Jonathan and his wife Rebecca (nee Graven) took over James Graven and Sons Ltd in 2000. Whilst building the business up rapidly from 12 staff to 140, Jonathan has had to quickly adapt to the ever changing forecourt and convenience store business. Jonathan was the founding Chairman of the Budgens National Retailer Council shortly after buying the first ever Budgens store to be sold to an independent retailer and during his chairmanship, he was asked to join the independents Board of the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS). A year later, Jonathan joined the main Board of the ACS and has been the vice Chairman for 4 years during which he has given evidence to the Low Paid Commission and the Sentencing Advisory Panel. Last year Jonathan was been elected as Chairman for a further two year period and also now sits on the NACS International Committee as well as being a member of the Unilever Partners for Growth Panel. Jonathan is a regular contributor to the National media and has appeared a number of times on BBC Breakfast TV, BBC News 24, BBC Look East and Anglia News. He has also spoken on BBC Radios 1, 2, 4 and Five Live and was on the Jeremy Vine show on BBC Radio 2. As well as the media Jonathan regularly speaks at conferences both in the UK and abroad and this has taken him to Brisbane Australia, Mauritius and Tenerife usually in an inspirational role. Jonathan is a columnist in the Independent Retail News and has also written articles for The Grocer magazine. Jonathan is available as an after dinner or conference speaker. For further details please email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Rebecca (NEE GRAVEN) is the 6th generation to be Managing Director of James Graven & Sons Ltd. Rebecca worked for Lloyds Bank Bank for 5 years before joining family business in July 1993 shortly after she married Jonathan. Rebecca was responsible for all the company’s administrative rolls. This consisted of HR, Health and Safety, Payroll, producing monthly management accounts along with the managing the company’s rental Properties, before taking over when her father Tim retired. Jonathan came to support Rebecca with the running of the business in January 2000 some six months after the birth of their daughter Emily. Together they are a formidable team and they have successfully brought James Graven & Sons through an exciting transition from Forecourt petrol stations to Convenience Retailing, winning a number of prestigious awards along the way. Rebecca is still involved with all decision and succession planning of the business, and she now has a happy work balance between the company and looking after their two children Emily and Joshua.