John Sainsbury, Baron Sainsbury of Preston Candover

Lord Sainsbury of Preston Candover in the robes of a Knight Companion of the Order of the Garter

Sir John Davan Sainsbury, Baron Sainsbury of Preston Candover, KG (b. 1927) is a British businessman and politician.

He is the son of Alan Sainsbury, Baron Sainsbury of Drury Lane and the nephew of Sir Robert Sainsbury. He is married to the former ballerina Anya Linden.

He attended Worcester College, Oxford, reading History. He was Chairman of the J Sainsbury supermarket chain but retired in 1992. He is credited with steering the company from early success to become the UK's most successful supermarket chain, as well as overseeing its floation in 1973. [1] Following his retirement his cousin David Sainsbury (now Lord Sainsbury) became Chairman. By the time of his retirement in 1998 Sainsbury's lost its position as the UK's largest supermarket chain to Tesco.

In 1993 he joined with Lord Rothschild to set up the Butrint Foundation to record and conserve the archaeological site of Butrint in Albania.

He is a life peer and sits in the House of Lords as a member of the Conservative Party. His brother is Sir Timothy Sainsbury, a former Conservative Member of Parliament.