Frozen food & grocery retailer Iceland was last night named the best company to work for in the UK at a prestigious awards ceremony.
CEO Malcolm Walker collected the gong at the Sunday Times Best Companies Awards Dinner held at the Battersea Arena yesterday.
It represents a steady ascent for the business which ranked 14th overall in the annual poll in 2009, jumped one place the following year, and reached number 6 in the league table published by the publication last year.
Commenting on the award, Malcolm Walker said: “At Iceland we‘ve always known that Iceland is the best company to work for – not just in the UK, but in the world – and it is great to have this confirmed by such a respected independent survey.
“When we first entered in 2009 I said I wouldn‘t be happy until we were Number one and I am absolutely delighted that we have now achieved this goal.”
Firms taking part in the yearly poll are assessed based on the responses of their employees to a job satisfaction survey, and Walker was quick to pay tribute to his staff members who had stayed “so positive and committed” throughout a period where the company has been looking for a new buyer.
This award further supports the decision by the retailer‘s current owner, a consortium run by failed Icelandic bank Landsbanki, to give Iceland‘s management team the first option on buying the retail group.
Several other parties had shown an interest in acquiring the whole of the business or some of its stores but a deal for Walker and his colleagues to take full control of Iceland is now expected to be completed in the next few weeks.
Nick Canning, Iceland Executive Director for People & Customers at Iceland, said: “Malcolm Walker founded Iceland in 1970 and has led the business for a truly astounding 37 successful years.
“Everyone in the company knows what a fantastic leader he is and feels immensely proud of his achievements. We are delighted that, thanks to this award, many more people will now share our secret.”
