Morrisons new boss David Potts asks head office staff to spend time in stores

Potts, who took the helm on Monday, has told head office employees he will be working in a store over Easter week and urged them to follow suit for at least one week each year as part of a new ‘Team Work’ initiative.

‘Team Work’ is part of a “wider listening initiative” launched by Potts. He wants to encourage customers and staff to tell Morrisons “what they like about the grocer but also what it could do better”.

Potts’ idea mirrors that of rival Tesco boss Dave Lewis. Lewis launched a ‘Feet on the Floor’ initiative in October, instructing thousands of head office staff to spend time in stores.

Potts said:  “I want to listen hard and respond to the views of as many customers and staff as I can.  I strongly believe that we are all retailers and we can learn how to serve our customers better when we are working in our stores or when we do our own shopping.”

Potts has a tough job on his hand to end a sustained period of declining sales and profits at Morrisons after the grocer was hit hard by the discounters and increasing price competition in the wider market.