How times change. In his new book (pictured) about his career in retail and the future of the high street, former Focus and Wickes boss Bill Grimsey recalls his early days in the world of supermarkets.

Bill Grimsey

He tells of being hung-up by his heels on an s-hook in the walk-in refrigerator for using insufficiently hot water to scrub down a butcher’s block. He says: “By today’s standards – in fact by any standards – this was a pretty brutal way to make a point. I’d certainly like to think that the treatment of young trainees has improved a bit.” Quite.