Sainsbury’s boss sees pay triple to £3.8million

SAINSBURY’S came under fire after boss Simon Roberts pay hit £3.8m.

As shoppers struggle, the UK’s second-biggest grocer gave its chief executive £2.8m in bonuses and incentives, and an £875,000 salary for the year to March 5. With benefits and pension contributions it took his package to £3.8m, up from £1.3m.

Finance chief Kevin O’Byrne’s pay jumped to £3.2m, from £2.3m. Despite waiving his £1m bonus last year, Roberts, 51, did not do so this year, saying his focus was ‘what we are doing for customers and for our colleagues’.

he was paid 183 times more than the average Sainsbury’s employee.

Andrew Speke from the high Pay Centre thinktank said: ‘claim to be standing by his customers, while accepting such a big pay rise seems hypocritical and out of touch. It should be prioritising keeping food prices low and wages high for its shop floor workers.’

Sainsbury’s said it was investing £500m to lower prices and £100m in raising staff pay. It said: ‘Management pay is strictly aligned with the progress we are making for customers, colleagues and shareholders.’