Asda’s Chief Executive Chair, Allan Leighton, is confirmed as the first speaker for LIVE Retail Week x The Grocer 2026 (LIVE 2026), marking his first event appearance since returning to the supermarket last November.

Grocery guru and comeback king, Leighton re-joined Asda having led the supermarket as CEO between 1996 – 2000. During his first tenure, Leighton orchestrated the grocer’s turnaround in the mid-to-late nineties and oversaw the acquisition of the business by Walmart in 1999.

After leaving Asda in 2000, Leighton since held a string of high profile positions at Royal Mail, Co-op, Dyson and lastminute.com, as well as spending time in Canada as President of the country’s largest food retailer, Loblaw Companies.

A supermarket on a mission to rediscover its Asda-ness

Since his return, Leighton has been spearheading the grocer’s transformation and turnaround strategy as it looks to win back market share by ‘rediscovering’ its ‘Asda-ness’.

“Asda’s mission is to deliver the value ordinary working people, and their families, demand from us. To do this, we need to be and are rediscovering our Asda-ness.”

Allan Leighton, Executive Chairman, Asda

Having already brought back Asda’s Rollback proposition and reinstated its infamous Asda Price pocket-tap, Leighton announced the supermarket’s biggest price cuts in 25 years in March, saying a “war chest” would allow it to “materially” forego profits in the short-term to win back market share. Earlier this month, Asda was recognised as the UK’s lowest-priced major supermarket by The Grocer in its Grocer Gold Awards.

Leighton has also shaken up the Asda leadership team since his return, with key appointments, many of whom are re-joining the grocer, as well creating new exec roles.

Confirmed as the first speaker for LIVE 2026, which takes place on 03 March next year, Leighton will join a fireside chat with Retail Week.

To register your interest for LIVE 2026, visit: LIVE Retail Week x The Grocer – Register Interest – 2026.