Leading the list of the wealthiest individuals in the industry was again Hans Rausing of Tetra Pak fame.

Rausing came third overall in the list of Britain and Ireland's 1,000 wealthiest people with an estimated fortune of almost 5bn. Sharing 46th spot were Michael Cornish, who last year sold off the family's Linpac business in a 900m deal, and Richard Desmond of Express Newpapers, who owns 50% of West Ferry Printers.

Both are said to be worth 700m. At 142 was John Madejski who has generated most of his 305m wealth from his interests in Reading Football Club and the sale of Hurst Publishing in 1998, but he also owns Goodhead Group.

Irish packaging group chairman Michael Smurfit came in at 171 with a fortune of 262m while Lord Bob Gavron, founder of St Ives, appeared at 704 worth 58m. With a fortune estimated at 45m, Terry Brady of Alito Colour, was the last printer listed in the survey at 865.

Story by Lauretta Roberts