Iceland’s Richard Walker on being retail’s straight talker

Richard Walker Headshots 8

Iceland managing director Richard Walker tells Retail Week how the grocer is juggling its rapid expansion of The Food Warehouse with its sustainability drive.

In a wide-ranging interview covering everything from the grocer’s industry-leading work on sustainability issues such as plastics and palm oil, to his recent appearance on Question Time and calls for a second Brexit referendum, Iceland’s Richard Walker spoke candidly ahead of the opening of the 100th Food Warehouse fascia in Blackpool.

Walker branded Iceland “the fastest growing retailer in the UK”, explained why The Food Warehouse has gone from strength to strength in the less than five years since the format launched and addressed the reasons behind the grocer’s lacklustre recent financial performance. 

He also spoke passionately on a number of issues ranging from Brexit to the “worrying” increase he has seen in violent crime incidents against Iceland employees. Young, eloquent and with a growing public platform, could the son of Iceland founder Sir Malcolm look to go into politics himself one day? 

 

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