
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
- News
Media Bites 30 April: Amazon, Coca-Cola, M&S cyber hack, Starbucks
Amazon boss Jeff Bezos reportedly received an angry call from US President Donald Trump accusing the online retail giant of a ‘hostile political act’
- Comment & Opinion
How AI is solving the self-checkout shoplifting epidemic
As supermarkets use AI to battle the self-checkout shoplifting epidemic the human touch will be vital
- Analysis & Features
What’s Asda Price? Reality of Asda rollback return is unclear
The return of Asda’s Rollbacks wiped over £4bn off the value of Tesco, Sainsbury’s and M&S. But is it rowing back on its Rollback programme?
- News
Dove sales up 8% as Unilever posts ‘resilient’ Q1 performance
Plans to turn Unilever into a ‘consistently higher-performing business’ were on track, said new CEO Fernando Fernandez
- Comment & Opinion
What’s not to like about supermarket veg price wars this Easter?
Supermarkets are selling nutritious veg for just 8p a pack. How is that not a good thing?
- Comment & Opinion
Asda’s puny price war causes bizarre run on Tesco share price
Tesco’s magnificent results and diverse armoury of weapons overlooked by over-reacting investors
- News
Media Bites 7 April: tariffs, Tesco, Asda, ABF, Kellogg’s
The trade war kicked off by US president Donald Trump resulted in near-total domination of the media’s business reporting this weekend. Markets opened in the Far East and the ’bloodbath’ in the financial markets is getting worse
- Comment & Opinion
Trump’s ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs are merely an amuse-bouche
The consensus in the trade (and the City) is that UK food and drink suppliers have got off lightly when it comes to exports
- Comment & Opinion
Defra’s Food Strategy will fail if it doesn’t support growth
Addressing obesity, sustainability and food security all crucial in food strategy but so is growth
- Grocer 33
Asda almost delivers on Leighton’s price promise in Grocer 33
Only Morrisons came close to matching Asda’s prices in latest price comparison
- News
Media Bites 28 March: UPFs, Dubai chocolate, Asda numbers game, tariffs
Gut health subscription service Zoe says some UPFs are safe to eat
- Comment & Opinion
Allan Leighton will need time as well as money to turn Asda around
Allan Leighton is ‘putting the band back together’ but it’s going to take a lot of practice to get the Asda show well and truly back on the road
- Analysis & Features
Exclusive: Allan Leighton’s plans to turn ‘maverick’ Asda around
Allan Leighton has ‘loved every minute’ since returning to Asda. And his comeback is already having an impact internally – and externally. In an exclusive interview with The Grocer, he reflects on the progress to date and the plans that are taking shape
- Comment & Opinion
Defra’s abrupt termination of the SFI is reprehensible
For farmers not to receive payment after opting under the terms of SFI to reduce productivity or forego income is morally repugnant
- Comment & Opinion
Even Poundland is struggling. What now for the UK high street?
It’s been a big week for the high street, with a WH Smith selloff and a ‘potential’ Poundland sale dominating the retail headlines
- Comment & Opinion
Will a Grinch-like ASA steal our Christmas supermarket ads?
Blockbuster supermarket ads are as much of a fixture of Christmas as mince pies
- News
Media Bites 3 March: Asda, online substitutions, Unilever
Asda is in the news for all the wrong reasons again with declining sales impacting staff bonuses while shoppers are receiving poor customer service from its online deliveries
- Comment & Opinion
Peckish and Scoot could be a gamechanger for rapid delivery
The Co-op’s Peckish and Booker’s Scoot are the first rapid delivery solutions to be developed by wholesalers
- Comment & Opinion
Goodness Issue shows food and drink putting best foot forward
This week’s Goodness Issue offers a timely reminder of the great and noble work performed by the industry on a daily basis
- Comment & Opinion
A blanket ban on junk food advertisers is a step too far
The world is watching on with interest to see how Robert F Kennedy Jr can ‘Make America Healthy Again’