Family elder still leading
The 2011 edition of WA’s Rich List will be published in The West Australian on Thursday. It will provide special insights into the affairs and fortunes of the State’s wealthiest people. In the lead up to the publication of the 2011 edition, thewest.com.au presents a series of interviews that Today Tonight reporter Alison Fan carried out with high profile members of the 2010 list. Fan’s Behind the Bottom line reports were compelling television. These people will feature in the 2011 edition with updated estimates of their wealth.
As the oldest member of one of Perth's best-known business families, Peter Kailis is well deserving of retirement.
Yet the energetic 84-year-old, who founded the Red Rooster chain in the 1970s, still gets up every morning to work at his Osborne Park office.
It has been a year of expansion for Mr Kailis' family, with his son Mark's organic olive oil venture expecting its biggest year and the Kailis fishing businesses making a determined push into the Eastern States.
The first of four enterprising sons of Greek migrant George Kailis, Mr Kailis started a packaging business at the age of 21.
In addition to his investments in the family businesses, Mr Kailis is now also involved in a company developing hydrogen-based clean energy technology.
He hopes to take some time off next year for his annual trip to the Greek islands.
Mark Kailis features in the 2011 WA Rich List, published in _The West Australian _ this Thursday, revealing what it was like growing up in the iconic family and the influence it had on his mission to build the world's biggest organic olive oil company.
"I grew up through the university of Red Rooster, through the family business," Mark Kailis said.
