Mark Price

Over the past year, the self-styled “chubby grocer” has defied critics to propel Waitrose into becoming the UK’s fastest growing grocer. Many food commentators thought Waitrose would be the first to suffer in the recession. However, Price has made sure the business is not only steady, but that it has soared ahead of the pack.

One of Price’s key moves over the past year was the £40m launch of Essential Waitrose, the grocer’s budget range. A 5% volume sales increase was needed to cover that investment, but sales actually increased 17%.

Price, who won the coveted Retail Leader of the Year accolade at the Oracle Retail Week Awards in March, also implemented several other initatives that helped keep Waitrose on top, not least uniting two famous chefs, Delia Smith and Heston Blumenthal, in an ad campaign. He launched two convenience formats so the grocer could get into small towns, plus he struck deals with service stations Welcome Break and Shell to trial an offer in motorway locations.

In addition Waitrose teamed up with Boots on a number of initiatives, including Waitrose shop-in-shops in Boots, and Boots providing health and beauty products to Waitrose stores.

Price has the ear of the Prince of Wales after striking a deal to buy his Duchy Originals brand, and an extended premium line, Duchy from Waitrose, will launch in September.

Waitrose reported strong like-for-like sales for the quarter to the end of April - up 3.4% - despite the slowdown in the grocery market.