Tesco chief Sir Terry Leahy has demanded Waitrose chief executive Mark Price retracts last week’s scathing attack on Tesco, in which he accused the chain of “using its financial might to stamp out rivals”.
Sir Terry reacted furiously to the comments, which were published in an interview in The Grocer and widely repeated in the national press. He is said to be increasingly frustrated with criticism of Tesco from pressure groups and other supermarket chains.
The two chief executives are said to have spoken early last week, after the interview was published. Sir Terry has written to Price asking that he set the record straight in public. Both retailers are understood to be consulting their lawyers.
A spokesman for Tesco refused to comment on Sir Terry Leahy’s letter, but said: “Mr Price made some serious allegations about Tesco which were damaging and wrong.”
A spokesperson for Waitrose said discussions between the two chief executives were a private matter, and they would “not be commenting further”.
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