Adam Leyland
Adam has led The Grocer since 2006. In that time he and his team have picked up a string of awards, as the publication, now celebrating its 160th anniversary, has been transformed into a multi-channel operation, comprising a weekly magazine, a vibrant website, multiple daily and weekly newsletters and a strong social media presence, as well as awards, conferences and webinars.
A well-known figure in the food and drink industry, Adam makes frequent appearances on TV and radio and regularly hosts conferences, webinars and awards. And his knowledge is as broad as the sector itself: from health & obesity, to online and rapid delivery; from sustainability to entrepreneurship; from farm shops and challenger brands, to the giant supermarkets and multinational suppliers.
Above all, Adam is a lifelong 'foodie' and 'winophile'. His love of food and drink – and of seeing and sampling exciting new products, merchandised and prepared in clever and compelling ways – continues to this day. But he is also passionate about the social aspect of food, and has successfully lobbied the government for funding to subsidise food waste redistribution through The Grocer’s award-winning Waste Not Want Not campaign. He has also championed the merits of a balanced diet and common sense in the ongoing debate about obesity.
Adam was voted Editor of the Year at the British Society of Magazine Editors Awards in 2015 and 2009 and his support for great journalism has seen The Grocer pick up a further seven awards under his tenure: BSME writer of the year (three times); BSME web editor of the year; BSME specialist team of the year; and PPA features writer of the year (twice).
In a 35+-year career as a journalist and editor Adam has also interviewed a wide variety of politicians, celebrities and senior business leaders, including Buzz Aldrin, Richie Benaud, Stelios, Sir Paul McCartney, Sir Terry Leahy, Sir James Dyson, Lord Sainsbury, Sir Philip Green, David Cameron and the press secretary to US President Bill Clinton.
Other publications he has edited include Real Business, PRWeek (launching the US edition in seven weeks), Press Gazette and PrintWeek. He has also written for the FT, The Times, Sunday Times, The Sunday Telegraph, Mail on Sunday, Daily Mail, The Observer, The Independent, The Guardian, The Evening Standard and several business publications including Management Today, Campaign and Marketing.
Adam is married with a son and lives in London.
Contact info
- Tel:
- 01293 610263
- Email:
- adam.leyland@thegrocer.co.uk
- Comment and Opinion
It’s a miracle: how water brand Liquid Death is valued at $1.4bn
Here’s 10 reasons for the phenomenal valuation and ‘hypergrowth’ of Liquid Death, the most adult of soft drinks brands
- Comment and Opinion
Morrisons is the elephant in the room of the M&A scene
Unconfirmed reports this week that Morrisons is exploring the sale of Rathbones are potentially embarrassing to Morrisons and to CEO Rami Baitiéh if true
- Comment and Opinion
Timely food waste funding must be put to good use this time around
The funds will give the sector access to the biggest untapped source of food surplus in the sector
- Comment and Opinion
The struggle to process what ultra-processed foods means
Consumers, scientists, policymakers and food manufacturers are all struggling to process what UPF means
- Grocer 33
Asda is best supermarket in our Wimbledon mystery shop
Asda’s store was described as “wide open, tidy, modern and very inviting”
- Comment and Opinion
Wes Streeting’s steamroller is heading in the food industry’s direction
Labour is courting big business. And the attraction is mutual
- Comment and Opinion
Sainsbury’s Next Level strategy is pretty basic… but also ballsy
Four years into its Food First strategy, Sainsbury’s isn’t currently selling its full food range in the vast majority of its superstores and hypermarkets
- Comment and Opinion
Brexit border rules: the big questions still to answer on imports
The latest bombshell to emerge is the upgrade of certain fruit & veg from low risk to medium risk
- Comment and Opinion
Diageo’s marginalisation of wholesalers sets a worrying precedent
The danger is the situation snowballs, breaking a further link in the wholesale chain
- Comment and Opinion
What will Dave Lewis do for Morrisons and CD&R?
Despite the Tesco connection with CD&R’s Terry Leahy, Dave Lewis is more of a Unilever appointment
- Comment and Opinion
Tesco’s double Clubcard points speaks volumes about where the market is up to
Who hit the Christmas jackpot? The short answer is the discounters, and in particular, Lidl
- Comment and Opinion
Promotions are back with a bang, but who will buy these brands at the rsp?
Are brands helping customers if it’s only via promos? It’s a dangerous game
- Comment and Opinion
Far from landbanking, the CMA is criticising the supermarkets for selling off land
The CMA continues to find supermarkets at fault over illegal use of land, 13 years after ‘landbanking’ legislation came in
- Comment and Opinion
A pan-industry eco-label is a real test of the IGD’s influence
The scheme has the potential not just to unify and simplify the industry’s efforts, but to gain the UK government’s approval
- The Big Interview
IGD CEO Sarah Bradbury on eco-labels and lobbying
Sarah Bradbury has been armed with a mandate to help the industry change. So how does the IGD’s ambitious and driven new CEO plan to go about it?
- Comment and Opinion
Quality Street’s John Barnes wrapping ad is a game-changer for advertising
Retailers and suppliers have gone in several new directions this year, with ‘sadvertising’ notably absent while humour and quirkiness has been dialled up
- Comment and Opinion
Hotel Chocolat, last bastion of British chocolate innovation, has sold out to Mars
It’s the end of the road for British chocolate, but Angus Thirlwell’s dream is still alive
- Comment and Opinion
Booths ripping out self-service tills is counter-cultural but comes at a cost
There’s no doubt that, as supermarkets have introduced more SSCOs, there has been growing disaffection
- Comment and Opinion
Ailana Kamelmacher, Intune co-founder, doyenne of foodie PR and storyteller supreme
Ailana Kamelmacher has left an indelible mark on food and drink brands and also touched countless lives with her championing and mentoring of young people
- Comment and Opinion
Innovation is alive and well, as the New Product & Packaging Awards show
New and improved awards celebrated the crucial resurgence of branded NPD