Ex-chairman Sir Ken Morrison delivered a public attack on head of Morrisons Dalton Philips at its annual shareholders meeting yesterday.
Philips was told by Morrison, who left the business in 2008, that his strategy for the chain was “bullshit.”
The comments heap pressure on Phillips who saw like-for-like sales plummet 7.1 per cent for the first quarter this year.
Morrison said: “The results were described by the chairman and chief executive as ‘disappointing‘. I personally thought they were disastrous.
“When I left work and started working as a hobby, I chose to raise cattle. I have something like 1,000 bullocks and, having listened to your presentation, Dalton, you‘ve got a lot more bullshit than me.”
The supermarket chains demise has been alarming of late and lost £176m last year, while it has only begun to offer online shopping. It will launch a loyalty card later this year which could help it to establish a much-needed connection with customer.
Meanwhile, Morrisons chairman Sir Ian Gibson confirmed he will not seek re-election at next year‘s AGM meeting.
Phil Dorrel, director of Retail Remedy said “a lack of leadership, an estate that lacks excitement, uninspired marketing, cautious consumers and an online strategy that is playing catch-up” meant the grocer had real problems going forward.
