BUSINESS - Peter Thomas
My business career really took off in 1970 with the formation of Peters Savoury Products, a company known for its manufacturing and distribution of savoury food products. After almost 20 years the company was bought by Grand Metropolitan who have been renamed Diageo and is still on record as being the most private successful sale recorded in Wales.
In 1988 there was a change of direction and I moved into the property sector forming Atlantic Property Developments plc where I remain Chairman and Chief Executive. Throughout that time we have done major developments both in Europe and the UK. Some highlights being the largest factory outlet centre in Spain with over 400,000 sq ft, Culverhouse Cross Retail Park on the outskirts of Cardiff, ELWA in Caerphilly, Rhydacar Leisure Park in Merthyr Tydfil and currently under construction, 100,000 sq ft offices for Southampton Local Authority. We have also won the prestigious Prince Of Wales award commencing the first 200 houses in Coed Darcy.
In addition to that, the family were major shareholders in the airport business of TBI Plc, owning nine airports which included Luton, Belfast, Cardiff International, Atlanta Georgia and Sanford in Florida.
On the sporting side I am Chairman of Cardiff Rugby Football Club which runs the Cardiff Blues and Cardiff Blue and Black Premiership side. I am currently Chairman of Regional Rugby Wales which is the company representing the four regions, The Blues, The Dragons, The Ospreys and The Scarlets. Rugby is a huge passion for me and all my family. Moving to the Cardiff City Stadium and the training facilities at The Vale has been a culmination of six years hard work since the start of Regional Rugby and compares with the very best throughout the rugby world.
Through our family charitable foundation, The Atlantic Foundation, my wife Babs has run this for over 15 years, focussing on Education, The Arts, Sports and The Community.
We are big supporters of the NSPCC and recently climbed Kilimanjaro and are about to embark on a climb to Macchu Piccu in South America. These challenges and events we have helped raise over £3M for the NSPCC.
