Duncan Bannatyne founded the Bannatyne Group, the health-club and hotel business, before appearing as a Dragon on the British show Dragons' Den.
Bannatyne began his business career in vending and later expanded into care homes before building his health-club and spa group. The Bannatyne Group became associated with gyms, health clubs, spas and hotels across the United Kingdom. His business story made him a natural fit for a programme centred on entrepreneurial experience.
The company name can make the answer seem self-evident, but it is useful to distinguish the Bannatyne Group from the many businesses in which Bannatyne invested as a Dragon. His investments on the programme were separate from the group he founded and developed through his own business career.