Or is he a Corporate creation ?
As he dosn't seem to be around much these days whilst his bootiful turkeys are being gased.
2007-02-06 23:13:46 · 18 answers · asked by I.P. 3 in News & Events ➔ Other - News & Events
He's away on business with Captain Birdseye and Aunt Bessie
2007-02-06 23:17:08 · answer #1 · answered by Princesspoison 3 · 4⤊ 0⤋
No, he is a real man and at 76 is still alive and well. In fact he was awarded the Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) in this year's New Year's Honours, for work devoted to the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme! From the company website: 'The Bernard Matthews story began back in 1950 with one man, 20 turkey eggs and a second hand incubator. Today the company is global, with an annual turnover of over £400 million and employing around 7,000 people worldwide. By 1952, Bernard Matthews was producing 3000 turkey eggs at his Norfolk home and decided to leave his insurance job and move into turkey farming full-time. Three years later he bought a derelict mansion and 36 acres of land. Great Witchingham Hall, near Norwich, now restored to its former glory, remains the headquarters of the company today.........After being floated on the stock exchange in 1971, the company has recently reverted to being a limited company with ownership returning to the Matthews family.'
2007-02-06 23:19:35 · answer #2 · answered by uknative 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Bernard Matthews is a food processing company headquartered in Norwich, Norfolk, with 57 farms throughout Norfolk, Suffolk and Lincolnshire.[1] They produce and market turkey and other meat products, oven-ready turkeys, day-old turkeys, fish products and other poultry products.
The company was founded by Bernard Trevor Matthews CVO, CBE (born 1930 in Brooke, Norfolk), the son of a mechanic, in 1950, soon after finishing his education at the City of Norwich School.[2]
In 1964 he met with Nikita Kruschev to discuss the modernisation of the Russian Poultry industry.[3]
Matthews was appointed a CVO in the New Year's Honours December 2006, for his service with the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, a scheme for which he had also previously been awarded a CBE.
As well as the United Kingdom, activities are carried out in New Zealand, Germany, France, Guernsey, Hungary (under the SaGa Foods label) and Poland.
Bernard Matthews farms 8 million turkeys every year in the UK, feeding them a vegetarian diet of non-GM crops from the company's own feed mills. After pressure from consumer groups and Greenpeace[4], all fresh turkeys and turkey products have been non-GM fed since March 2001.[5]
As of 2005 annual turnover is over £400 million, according to the company's website
1950 - Company founded
1955 - Its headquarters were moved to its present location, Great Witchingham Hall near Norwich.[6]
1960 - Bernard Matthews entered the Guinness Book of Records as the biggest turkey farmer in Europe.[3]
1971 - The company was publicly listed.[7]
1980 - The company launched its first TV commercial featuring Turkey Breast Roast, with Matthews himself introducing the famous 'Bootiful' catchphrase in his thick Norfolk accent.[8]
2000 - Bernard Matthews successfully fought off a take-over bid from US food giant Sara Lee.[9]
2001 - The company was bought back by the Matthews family and taken private again.[10]
2007-02-07 02:14:24 · answer #3 · answered by DX Generation22 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes Bernard Mathews is a real person. He used to appear in his own advertisements years ago. Haven't seen him on tv for a while though, I guess he's in his 70's now. Likeable chap but I never buy his products - sorry - and after seeing how a member of his staff treated those poor birds, I'm sure glad I don't
2007-02-06 23:40:12 · answer #4 · answered by Curious39 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A few years ago I use to work in telesales and actually called Bernard Matthews and asked to speak to him.........Naturally he didnt come to the phone.
Corporate creation I say
2007-02-06 23:17:35 · answer #5 · answered by KnOwLeDgE_iS_PoWeR 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, he is real, I remember watching a documentary about him a few years ago. He has the most fabulous home
2007-02-06 23:21:47 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think you're right. He's the Suffolk equivalent to Colonel Saunders.
Bootiful, really bootiful.....
2007-02-06 23:18:01 · answer #7 · answered by Ecko 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
yes he does, he was born in 1930 and is a VCO. plus, he owns all those turkey concentration camps, err...farms too!
2007-02-06 23:29:46 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes he lives near me and I have seen him.
2007-02-07 00:45:50 · answer #9 · answered by Plato 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yeah i ate one of those turkey's for dinner i was wondering why it had after taste in my mouth?
2007-02-07 00:38:22 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋