The executive chair of Iceland has said that while the government needs to create the right conditions, British businesses must also take responsibility for facilitating growth.

Following an interview with the Financial Times (FT) on Monday in which he rated Labour’s leadership so far as “six out of 10”, Richard Walker told retailers on LinkedIn that "growth isn't built in Whitehall."

“It’s been a tough first six months for the government, and while challenges remain, the focus must now shift to delivering inclusive, everyday economic growth,” continued the chair. “When I warned businesses not to give up hope after the Budget, it wasn’t in any way about ignoring the difficulties - we all know how tough the environment is.

“It was because I understood the dangers of pessimism. Confidence drives investment, investment drives jobs, and jobs drive growth.”

He said that instead of cutting jobs, it is recruiting for more than 600 new roles in 2025.

The comments come after rival supermarkets Tesco and Sainsbury’s announced plans last month to axe staff.

Sainsbury's said it would cut more than 3,000 jobs as part of its strategy to simplify operations and address a challenging financial environment, while Tesco revealed plans to lay off 400 people across both its UK stores and head office as it looks for "more efficient ways of working".

“We’re not waiting for policy changes,” wrote Walker. “We’re acting now - investing in new stores, supporting communities with the Iceland Food Club, and giving second chances through our ex-offender employment initiative.

“Government needs to create the right conditions, but businesses must take responsibility too. Growth isn’t built in Whitehall; it’s felt in people’s pockets, in their bills, and at the tills."

He went on to say that in five years time, success won't be measured in runways - referring to Labour's backing of a third runway at Heathrow - instead he said it will be measured in "freezer cabinets".

In his interview with the FT, Walker warned that higher employer national insurance contributions have "added greatly to the cost of business" and that the third runway wouldn't support economic growth in the medium-term.

The executive chair also said that MPs must do more to tackle a productivity crisis in the UK.

“A project that won’t be completed for decades is no help to businesses that need to invest today," he continued.

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