Anderson started Parragon Book Service, a publishing company selling titles in supermarkets, with partner Guy Parr. Between 1990 and 1994, sales grew at 88% annually. Private equity group 3i paid £10 million for a 10% stake in 1994. The 51-year-old resigned from the board of Parragon in 1998, but kept a 45% stake in the Bath-based firm. His stake was worth £45 million when the business was sold in 2000 to DC Thomson for £100 million.