
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 & Opinion
Why has time been called on long-running Robinsons sponsorship deal with Wimbledon tennis?
Media speculation on why the sponsorship deal has ended are outside the line
- Comment & Opinion
What’s causing the decline in customer service in our supermarkets? And should we be concerned?
The pandemic will rightly be remembered as the industry’s finest hour
- News
Sebastian Munden to leave Unilever UK&I GM role following restructure
Munden was appointed to run the UK&I business in 2017 and has been hailed for his significant contribution to Unilever
- Comment & Opinion
Why is it grocers ‘match’ their prices to Aldi as opposed to Lidl?
In thought, word and deed, Tesco is passing itself off as a discounter. Or not
- News
Customer service and store standards slump at supermarkets as supply chain crisis hits home
There was no change in the winners of the 2022 Grocer 33 awards for price, service and availability, but our annual review reflects significant disruption
- Grocer 33
Lidl cheaper than Aldi in The Grocer’s ‘Super 33’ food and drink price comparison
Lidl was the cheapest supermarket in The Grocer’s first-ever ‘Super 33’, but by the narrowest of margins
- Comment & Opinion
The Grocer Cup winner Jonathan Warburton: baking’s brilliant Bolton Wanderer
The recipient of this year’s Grocer Cup, Jonathan Warburton, has grown a small family bakery into the biggest UK-based grocery brand by miles
- Comment & Opinion
The industry is at war with itself, and the cause is obvious, but the solutions are not
It might not have felt like it but, since 2014, retailer-supplier relations have enjoyed a tense benevolence
- Grocer 33
Asda is cheapest again, unless Tesco Clubcard savings are applied
It’s the seventh time in the 50 weeks of the competition where Tesco would have been cheaper
- Analysis & Features
Inside a CBD tale that’s not so novel
The FSA has yet to approve the CBD products on its notorious ‘list’ but there are CBD products exempt from novel foods authorisation
- Comment & Opinion
Ocado’s incessant value messaging is starting to grate
Ocado’s fall from grace on the stock market has been spectacular
- Comment & Opinion
Scrapping the ban on bogofs is not a big deal in the grand scheme of things
The real story is the postponement of the pre-watershed advertising ban
- Comment & Opinion
‘Cheap food’ calls from prime minister come with cheap shots
What more could the government do to help with the cost of living crisis? This week Tesco chair John Allan and JLP boss Sharon White weighed in
- Comment & Opinion
Cheese and chorizo out of scope of HFSS regs despite near demise of PM
The anomalous drafting of the laws, as devised by the DHSC, are the issue here
- Comment & Opinion
Who holds the power in the current retailer-supplier axis? It’s finely balanced
It’s difficult to know who has the harder job right now: buyers tasked with keeping prices down amid the cost of living onslaught, or suppliers, trying to push them through
- Comment & Opinion
How much is a pint of milk? Not enough, more than it was, lower than it will be soon
It’s a question most often asked to trip up out-of-touch politicians, though research from Aldi in September 2020 found shoppers too were surprisingly in the dark
- Comment & Opinion
A four-day price cut won’t fly with shoppers. It’s the other 361 days that count
There’s a lot of jockeying for position among the supermarkets amid the cost of living crisis
- Comment & Opinion
Tesco’s approach to inflation: a little bit less and a little bit later
Ken Murphy delivered a message of subtle prudence, in which Tesco signalled its focus on doing the right thing for shoppers, colleagues and suppliers
- Comment & Opinion
Sudden progress on bagged snacks reformulation appears to vindicate use of regulatory stick
The likes of Walkers, Hippeas, Mini Cheddars and even Manomasa are among the latest to come in under the HFSS bar
- Grocer 33
Asda is cheapest again but rivals are drawing closer
Asda had the highest year-on-year inflation of any of its rivals at 8.3%