Waitrose boss Mark Price to leave supermarket next year to focus on Channel 4 leadership race

The 33-year veteran of the company is quitting to apply to become the next chairman of Channel 4

A different mould: Waitrose boss Mark Price gave himself the nickname "the chubby grocer"

Matt Writtle

20 October 2015

The boss of Waitrose has revealed his surprise resignation from the supermarket he has led for nearly a decade after shrugging off the turmoil suffered by his fiercest rivals.

Mark Price, a lifer who has spent 33 years with the John Lewis Partnership, said he quit the job so he can apply to become the next chairman of Channel 4 when Lord (Terence) Burns stands down in January. He is already deputy chairman of the broadcaster and John Lewis.

He told the Standard: “I’m 55 next year and thought I can’t go on and on running Waitrose forever. Coming up to my 10th year I thought it was the right time for me and obviously I can’t do Channel 4 and Waitrose at the same time.”

Under John Lewis’ rules, partners over 55 are entitled to the company’s generous lifetime benefits.

The self-styled “chubby grocer” has led the upmarket retailer through a tumultuous period for the UK’s supermarkets. Discounters Aldi and Lidl, as well as Waitrose, have stolen shoppers from larger rivals including Tesco and Asda as customers sought cheap and good-quality goods.

Price said: “You couldn’t have wanted a more exciting time in retail than I’ve had and I’ve seen such huge change.

“But I feel as though it’s the right time and the Channel 4 opportunity is the right opportunity for me.”

He added that even if he does not get the job following interviews due to start next month, he would continue as deputy chairman of the broadcaster.

Price's progress

1982 - Joins John Lewis Partnership as graduate trainee

1998 - Promoted to become marketing director at Waitrose

2005 - Joins partnership board overseeing strategy

2007 - Succeeds Steven Esom as Waitrose managing director

2010 - Joins Channel 4 board eventually becoming deputy chairman

2011 - Becomes chairman of business in the community, leaving this year

2013 - Becomes deputy chairman of John Lewis

He added: “I’m going to consult for a global consultancy business, give lectures and continue writing books.”

Price will be replaced by current Waitrose retail director Rob Collins at the employee-owned business.

Partnership chairman Sir Charlie Mayfield said: “Mark has played a key role in steering the Partnership and has been a valued and trusted colleague.”

His time at Waitrose has not been without controversy, including the discovery some products marked as beef contained pork, during the height of the horsemeat scandal.

Last year the supermarket suffered one of its biggest falls in profits as the price war took hold. However, it has consistently had some of the most loyal customers.

Promoted: Rob Collins (Picture: John Lewis Partnership)

John Lewis Partnership

The move comes as Waitrose outperformed its Big Four rivals of Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda and Morrisons, according to Kantar Worldpanel.

Waitrose sales in the 12 weeks to October 11 were up 2.1% , compared with a 1.1% sales boost at Sainsbury’s. Tesco, Asda and Morrisons lost sales by 1.7%, 3% and 1%.

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Waitrose boss Mark Price to leave supermarket next year to focus on Channel 4 leadership race

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