Obituary and notice of funeral – Michael Ian Holdsworth

Founder of Holdsworth Foods and founding member of Fairway Foodservice, Michael Holdsworth, has died, his family has announced

Surrounded by his five children, Olivia, Genevieve, Esther, Rupert and Millicent, Michael died peacefully at home in Ashford in the Water, aged 85 years.

Michael was a well known and respected character in both the frozen food and foodservice industries, as well as in his local area of South Yorkshire and the Derbyshire Dales. Initially, he followed in his father’s footsteps and became a butcher before his natural entrepreneurial flair identified opportunities in wholesale food provision. He launched Michael I Holdsworth Limited operating out of a small garage unit in Stoney Middleton, selling and delivering oven-ready frozen chickens to local public houses.

As his number of customers and their demands increased, Michael began sourcing more product lines from the markets in nearby Sheffield and soon outgrew his original premises, facilitating a move for the business and his growing family to The Mill on Manchester Road in Tideswell, where the Holdsworth Foods head office remains today.

As his business grew, Michael employed John Marriott, who remained Michael’s right-hand man for 40 years. “Many dedicated and long-serving employees at Holdsworth consider Michael as a friend and they feel honoured to have worked alongside him,” said his family. “These friends recall grafting alongside Michael day in and day out, not for reward or recognition, but for Michael, who always led from the front.”

Michael was always looking for opportunity and was willing to take a risk. He was a founding member of the Fairway Foodservice, a frozen food buying consortium which was instrumental in the growth and development of his own business, as well as other similar regional wholesalers.

He made many friends of both suppliers, customers and his teams and was actively involved in both his business and the industry. He was a character, respected and warmly regarded by many, always willing to give others a helping hand without expectation of anything in return.

Holdsworth Food Services grew to be a highly successful national food distribution business, being a leader in the field and now operating out of 10 sites across England and Wales.

Michael retired as Managing Director in 1999 and John Marriott took on the mantle. John successfully led the company to further growth before his retirement in 2023, with Michael’s son Rupert the current Managing Director.

Michael was always mindful of his responsibility not only to those he employed, but also to their families and to the local communities his business became a part of.

First and foremost, Michael was passionate about his family. His wife Barbara, their five children, and nine grandchildren were his motivation to succeed. He always had a love of cars and had quite a variety of classics over the years. His other interests were history, snooker, golf and his second home in France, a country and culture that he loved.

Michael had many great friends whom he would regularly enjoy a pint with in the local pubs. He was a well liked member of the community, and although modest by nature, he helped many people throughout his life, supported local sports clubs, community events and businesses.

Michael will be cremated in a small private ceremony, with a public church Memorial Service, details below.

DATE: 11th of September

TIME: 1pm

PLACE: Holy Trinity Church, Church Street, Ashford in the Water, Derbyshire DE45 1QG

https://maps.app.goo.gl/NbcDkLDhNDKoEwUg9

You are also warmly invited to attend the Celebration of his Life afterwards

TIME: From 2.30pm

PLACE: The Ballroom, Hassop Hall, Hassop, Bakewell, Derbyshire, DE45 1NS.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/txhMfdu3FJaC34gX9

RSVP by 28th August using the QR code below, or by emailing milly@holdsworthfoods.co.uk

Funeral and Celebration of Life for Michael Holdsworth

Special request: In lieu of flowers, the family would be most grateful for a donation to Blythe House Hospice or Ashgate Hospice (www.noutchfunerals.co.uk/donations)

The church service will be available to access online for those unable to attend in person.

Please contact milly@holdsworthfoods.co.uk if you would like to be sent the link.