J Sainsbury plc, commonly known as Sainsbury’s, is the United Kingdom’s second-largest supermarket chain. Sainsbury’s CEO Simon Roberts CBE has led the company since June 2020, guiding it through the Covid-19 pandemic, the cost-of-living crisis, and into a period of record market share growth. Roberts started working in retail at age 15 at Marks & Spencer and rose through 16 years of operational experience — without a confirmed university degree — to lead a £33 billion business with over 141,000 employees. In the 2026 New Year Honours, he was awarded a CBE for services to the retail industry.
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Simon Roberts – Quick Facts
Sainsbury’s Competitors
Sainsbury’s is the UK’s second-largest grocery retailer with approximately 16% market share. The key competitors of Sainsbury’s include:
- Tesco – UK’s largest grocer with ~29% market share
- Asda – Third-largest UK supermarket (~11.5% share)
- Aldi – German discount chain rapidly growing in the UK (~11% share)
- Lidl – German discounter with ~8% UK market share
- Morrisons – Fourth “Big Four” supermarket (~8.4% share)
- Marks & Spencer – Premium food retailer and former employer of Roberts
- Ocado – Online-only grocery retailer and Sainsbury’s digital competitor
- Co-op – Convenience-focused grocery chain
Simon Roberts Net Worth 2026 – Sainsbury’s CEO Salary
As of 2026, Simon Roberts’ net worth is estimated at approximately £15–£25 million, based on his disclosed Sainsbury’s shareholdings and cumulative compensation. Roberts held approximately 2.2 million Sainsbury’s shares, although he sold 468,427 shares in May 2025 (at ~277p per share) and a further 578,500 shares in July 2025 to fund a residential property purchase. At a current share price of approximately 351p, his remaining holdings are still valued at several million pounds.
Sainsbury’s CEO Compensation Breakdown (FY2024/25)
Sainsbury’s Net Worth 2026 – Is Sainsbury’s Profitable?
Yes, Sainsbury’s is a profitable and growing company. Under CEO Simon Roberts, J Sainsbury plc has delivered its strongest financial performance in years, with record grocery market share gains and rising profits.
Sainsbury’s Financial Summary
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Sainsbury’s CEO Email Address | Simon Roberts Contact
Below are the official contact details and social media profiles for Sainsbury’s CEO Simon Roberts:
Career & Education – Company, College, & Timeline
Simon Roberts’ career spans nearly four decades in British retail. Remarkably, he began working at age 15 and built his career entirely through operational experience, making him one of the few FTSE 100 CEOs without a confirmed university degree. Below is his complete career timeline:
Simon Roberts Career Timeline
Roberts began his retail career at Marks & Spencer at the age of 15 in 1986, working part-time while attending Purley Sixth Form College in South London. Over 16 years, he progressed through store operations and regional management roles, becoming a senior manager by 1998. His deep understanding of shop-floor operations — from stacking shelves to managing large teams — would become a hallmark of his leadership style.
In 2003, he moved to Boots UK as Regional Director for the South Region. Over the next decade, he rose to Joint Chief Operating Officer (2011) and then Managing Director of Boots UK in October 2013. When Walgreens Boots Alliance was formed, Roberts became Executive Vice President and President of Boots UK & Ireland, overseeing a network of over 2,500 stores.
Roberts joined J Sainsbury in July 2017 as Retail & Operations Director, responsible for the day-to-day running of all Sainsbury’s supermarkets, convenience stores, and Argos outlets. When Mike Coupe stepped down as CEO, Roberts was the natural successor and became Chief Executive on 1 June 2020 — just weeks into the first national lockdown.
Education
Simon Roberts attended Purley Sixth Form College in South London (now part of Croydon College). No university degree has been publicly confirmed. He is one of the few FTSE 100 chief executives to have risen to the top of a major corporation without a traditional university education — his career was built entirely on operational experience gained from starting work at age 15. Roberts has spoken publicly about how his early shop-floor experience shaped his people-first leadership philosophy.
Simon Roberts Wiki – Age, Family, & More
Sainsbury’s CEO Simon Roberts (age 55) was born on 26 January 1971 in Croydon, South London. He grew up in the area and attended Purley Sixth Form College before beginning his career at Marks & Spencer. Roberts and his wife Helen have four children and live in York, North Yorkshire, England.
Roberts maintains a relatively private personal life but is known in the industry for his approachable, people-first leadership style. The Grocer magazine dubbed him “The People’s CEO” for his hands-on approach to store visits and employee engagement.
Notable Achievements & Recognitions
- CBE (2026 New Year Honours) – Commander of the Order of the British Empire for services to the retail industry
- Retail Leader of the Year (2024) – Awarded at the Retail Week Awards, March 2024
- Most Inclusive CEO in Retail (2024) – Honoured at the Inclusion in Retail Awards, November 2024
- IGD President (2024) – Named President of the Institute of Grocery Distribution
- “The People’s CEO” – Dubbed by The Grocer magazine for his people-first leadership style
- Highest Market Share Growth – Under his leadership, Sainsbury’s achieved its highest grocery market share since 2016
About Sainsbury’s
J Sainsbury plc is a British multinational retail and financial services conglomerate headquartered at 33 Holborn, London. Founded in 1869 by John James Sainsbury, it is the UK’s second-largest grocery retailer with approximately 16% market share. The company operates several major brands:
Sainsbury’s trades on the London Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol SBRY and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index. The company was founded over 155 years ago and operates approximately 1,400 stores across the United Kingdom, employing around 141,500 people.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Who is the current CEO of Sainsbury’s?
Simon Roberts CBE has been the Chief Executive Officer of J Sainsbury plc since 1 June 2020. He was previously the company’s Retail & Operations Director and before that served as Managing Director and EVP of Boots UK & Ireland. He was awarded a CBE in the 2026 New Year Honours for services to the retail industry.
What is Simon Roberts’ salary at Sainsbury’s?
Simon Roberts’ total compensation for FY2024/25 was £5.18 million, comprising a £971,000 base salary, £1.95 million annual bonus, and £2.17 million from the long-term incentive plan. His base salary was increased 3% to over £1 million for FY2025/26.
What is Simon Roberts’ net worth in 2026?
Simon Roberts’ net worth is estimated at £15–£25 million as of 2026, based on his cumulative Sainsbury’s compensation and shareholdings. He has held approximately 2.2 million Sainsbury’s shares, although he sold a portion in 2025 to fund a property purchase.
What is the Sainsbury’s CEO email address?
Sainsbury’s CEO Simon Roberts can be contacted via the corporate email format [email protected]. He can also be reached through Sainsbury’s headquarters at 33 Holborn, London EC1N 2HT, or by phone at 020 7695 6000. He is active on LinkedIn.
Did Simon Roberts go to university?
No university degree has been publicly confirmed for Simon Roberts. He attended Purley Sixth Form College in South London and began working at Marks & Spencer at age 15. He built his entire career through operational experience, making him one of the few FTSE 100 CEOs without a traditional university education.
Article last updated:January 2026March 3, 2026
Disclaimer: All information presented in this article has been compiled from publicly available sources, including official company press releases, annual reports, and reputable news outlets. This content is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice. Net worth figures are estimates and may vary by source.