Julian Metcalfe

Julian Edward Metcalfe OBE (born 14 December 1959) is a British entrepreneur and founder of food retailer itsu and Metcalfe's Food Company. He also ran Pret a Manger (with Sinclair Beecham).

Metcalfe is the grandson of Edward Dudley Metcalfe, MVO, MC, an officer in the British Indian Army and a close friend and equerry of Edward VIII.

Metcalfe was educated at Harrow School in north-west London. He later attended the Polytechnic of Central London, where he first met his later business partner, Sinclair Beecham.

Metcalfe acquired the Pret a Manger brand and re-opened the popular sandwich shop with college friend Sinclair Beecham in 1986, expanding it into the international brand "Pret."

Metcalfe founded itsu in 1997.

Metcalfe founded Metcalfe's Food Company in 2008. It sells Asian inspired food under the brand name itsu and a range of snack food under the brand name Metcalfe’s skinny.

Metcalfe's skinny snack food Metcalfe's Skinny Topcorn is a popular brand of popcorn in the United Kingdom.

In 2016 Metcalfe sold his interests in Metcalfes Skinny in full to Kettle Chips Owner Snyder's-Lance.

Already a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE), he was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2014 Birthday Honours for services to the hospitality industry.