North Wales based food chain Iceland Credit: Ian Nicholson/PA Archive/Press Association Images
Iceland chief executive Malcolm Walker has attacked local authorities for driving down the quality of food as the horsemeat scandal continues.
Mr Walker told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show: “Supermarkets shouldn’t be blamed. British supermarkets have got a fantastic reputation for food safety.
“If we’re going to blame somebody, let’s start with local authorities because there’s a whole side of this industry which is invisible, that’s the catering industry.
“Schools, hospitals, it’s a massive business for cheap food and local authorities award contracts based purely on one thing: price.”
Iceland, which has its HQ in Wrexham, was recently bought back by its founder Credit: Press Association
Frozen food retailer Iceland has announced record profits today, but admits its business is facing tough competition from money-off vouchers given by supermarket rivals.
The group, which has a headquarters in Wrexham, saw profits rose 18.5% to £184.3 million for the year to March 30
Founder Malcolm Walker, who recently bought back the company in a £1.5 billion deal, said underlying sales had been "pretty flat" since the year end as supermarkets stepped up their promotions
Iceland now has 814 stores across the UK and employs 24,000 staff.
