The turnaround of Sainsbury's under Justin King is one of the most famous in UK corporate history. This episode of the Business Leader Podcast is the story of how it happened.
When King arrived as chief executive of Sainsbury's in 2004 the supermarket chain was in crisis. It had gone from the biggest food retailer in the UK to the third biggest behind Tesco and Asda, and sales were still falling. By the time King stood down in 2014, Sainsbury's sales had grown by more than 50 per cent, profits had tripled and the brand had been revitalised.
More than a decade on, King now looks back on the story with more candour and insight than ever before, including the story behind his rivalry with Tesco and chief executive Sir Terry Leahy.
Related and recommended

The travel tour entrepreneur’s business is thriving after the pandemic because she listened to customers

Empowering employees to take ownership of decisions is vital to success, but they must accept the privilege and responsibility too

Fashion entrepreneur Dessi Bell explains why customers are looking for something different when they shop on the high street

Think assistants are just admin managers? Think again. They might be your greatest business asset