Norfolk turkey farmer Bernard Matthews died yesterday at the age of 80, his company has said.
Bernard Matthews' empire began with a humble 2.50p investment
In a statement, Bernard Matthews Farms' chief executive Noel Bartram said: "It is with a great deal of personal sadness that I confirm Bernard Matthews passed away on the afternoon of the 25th November.
"I have personally known Bernard Matthews for well over 30 years, and on behalf of myself and my fellow colleagues, I wish to express our great sorrow and extend our thoughts and sympathies to the family."
Famed for his "bootiful" TV ad catchphrase, Mr Matthews stepped down from his multi-million pound poultry empire in January.
From humble beginnings Mr Matthews built up his vast company to bring cheap turkey meat to the masses.
Mr Matthews was born in Brooke, Norfolk in 1930, and was the son of a mechanic.
He left school at 16 and began his rise to prominence in 1950 when he bought 20 turkey eggs and an incubator at a market in Acle, Norfolk.
By 1952 he was producing 3,000 turkey eggs at his home and decided to leave his insurance job and move into poultry farming full-time.
Three years later he bought Great Witchingham Hall, near Norwich - a derelict mansion with 36 acres of land.
It remains the headquarters of the Bernard Matthews Farms company.
Paying tribute his business boss, Mr Bartram said: "Rarely has any business been as synonymous with the hard work and values of one man.
"It was Bernard Matthews who grew and developed this company through his entrepreneurial spirit, and clear focus."
He added: "He is the man who effectively put turkey on the plates of everyday working families and in so doing became one of the largest employers in rural East Anglia and a major supporter of the local farming community."
Mr Matthews holding one of his birds outside No10 in 1979
Bernard Matthews' empire began with a humble 2.50p investment
In a statement, Bernard Matthews Farms' chief executive Noel Bartram said: "It is with a great deal of personal sadness that I confirm Bernard Matthews passed away on the afternoon of the 25th November.
"I have personally known Bernard Matthews for well over 30 years, and on behalf of myself and my fellow colleagues, I wish to express our great sorrow and extend our thoughts and sympathies to the family."
Famed for his "bootiful" TV ad catchphrase, Mr Matthews stepped down from his multi-million pound poultry empire in January.
From humble beginnings Mr Matthews built up his vast company to bring cheap turkey meat to the masses.
Mr Matthews was born in Brooke, Norfolk in 1930, and was the son of a mechanic.
He left school at 16 and began his rise to prominence in 1950 when he bought 20 turkey eggs and an incubator at a market in Acle, Norfolk.
By 1952 he was producing 3,000 turkey eggs at his home and decided to leave his insurance job and move into poultry farming full-time.
Three years later he bought Great Witchingham Hall, near Norwich - a derelict mansion with 36 acres of land.
It remains the headquarters of the Bernard Matthews Farms company.
Paying tribute his business boss, Mr Bartram said: "Rarely has any business been as synonymous with the hard work and values of one man.
"It was Bernard Matthews who grew and developed this company through his entrepreneurial spirit, and clear focus."
He added: "He is the man who effectively put turkey on the plates of everyday working families and in so doing became one of the largest employers in rural East Anglia and a major supporter of the local farming community."
Mr Matthews holding one of his birds outside No10 in 1979
