Everyone at the CCF is saddened to hear of the passing of Michael Holdsworth. Our thoughts are with everyone at Holdsworth Foods at this difficult time.
Michael Ian Holdsworth, born 18 October 1940, died peacefully at his home in Ashford in the Water, Derbyshire on 31 July 2026 aged 85 years. He was surrounded by his five loving children, Olivia, Genevieve, Esther, Rupert and Millicent.
Michael was a well known and respected character in both the frozen food and foodservice industries, as well as in his local area of South Yorkshire and the Derbyshire Dales. His reputation and legacy have and will remain for many decades.
Michael initially followed in his own father’s footsteps pursuing a career in butchery, gaining experience in both Mattocks and Dentons high class butchers in Sheffield. He then went on to study Management before taking on a management position at local chicken processing business J. Thornhills & Sons in Great Longstone. It was in 1969 that Michael’s natural entrepreneurial flair saw him realise his own business ambitions when he saw opportunities in wholesale food provision in the local area. He launched Michael I Holdsworth Limited, operating out of a small garage unit in Stoney Middleton, selling and delivering oven ready, frozen chickens to local public houses.
As his number of customers and their demands increased, Michael began sourcing more product lines from the markets in nearby Sheffield and soon outgrew his original premises, facilitating a move for the business and his growing family to The Mill on Manchester Road in Tideswell, where the Holdsworth Foods head office remains today.
As his business grew, Michael employed a former Thornhills colleague, John Marriott, who remained Michael’s right hand man for 40 years. Many dedicated and long serving employees at Holdsworth consider Michael as a friend and they feel honoured to have worked alongside him. These friends recall grafting alongside Michael day in and day out, not for reward or recognition, but for Michael. He always led from the front.
Michael was always looking for opportunity and was willing to take a risk. He was a founding member of the Fairway Foodservice, a frozen food buying consortium which was instrumental in the growth and development of his own business, as well as other similar regional wholesalers.
He made many friends of both suppliers, customers and his teams and was actively involved in both his business and the industry. He was a character, respected and warmly regarded by many, always willing to give others a helping hand without expectation of anything in return.
Holdsworth Food Services grew to be a highly successful national food distribution business, being a leader in the field and now operating out of 10 sites across England and Wales.
Michael retired as Managing Director in 1999 and John Marriott took on the mantle. John successfully led the company to further growth before his retirement in 2023, with Michael’s son Rupert the current Managing Director.
Michael was always mindful of his responsibility not only to those he employed, but also to their families and to the local communities his business became a part of.
First and foremost, Michael was passionate about his family. His wife Barbara, their 5 children, and 9 grandchildren were his motivation to succeed. He always had a love of cars and had quite a variety of classics over the years. His other interests were history, snooker, golf and his second home in France, a country and culture that he loved.
Michael had many great friends whom he would regularly enjoy a pint with in the local pubs. He was a well liked member of the community, and although modest by nature, he helped many people throughout his life, supported local sports clubs, community events and businesses.
Michael will be cremated in a small private ceremony, with a public church Memorial Service, details below.
DATE: 11th of September
TIME: 1 p.m.
PLACE: Holy Trinity Church, Church Street, Ashford in the Water, Derbyshire DE45 1QG
You are also warmly invited to attend the Celebration of his Life afterwards
TIME: From 2.30pm
PLACE: The Ballroom, Hassop Hall, Hassop, Bakewell, Derbyshire, DE45 1NS.RSVP by 28th August using the link below, or by emailing milly@holdsworthfoods.co.uk
Special request: In lieu of flowers, the family would be most grateful for a donation to
Blythe House Hospice (donation link) or Ashgate Hospice (donation link
www.noutchfunerals.co.uk/donations
The church service will be available to access online for those unable to attend in person. Please contact milly@holdsworthfoods.co.uk if you would like to be sent the link.
