Butcher’s boy who has discreetly risen to become Spain’s second-richest man

Mercadona supermarket chain owner Juan Roig is known for the austerity of his habits and a rigorous treatment of staff.

The owner of Mercadona is described as a practical man, direct, austere and a little cold in his approach if he doesn’t know you. Valencia-born Juan Roig is obsessed with productivity and a tough negotiator. Those that know him say he doesn’t come across as being rich. That could be because one of the richest men in Spain is the son of butchers. In his office, where he spends little time, he has a small gymnasium where he exercises during his few spare moments. That helps the 64-four-year-old look after his back, which has been troubling him for years.

He travels extensively throughout Spain during the working week and a lot of his management meetings are held in the van he uses for visits to Mercadona’s supermarkets and suppliers.