Iceland boss Richard Walker vows to set up shop on Falkland Islands
The boss of Iceland has waded into the fresh row over the Falkland Islands, vowing to open a supermarket in the British territory.
Lord Richard Walker, executive chairman of the retailer, wrote on LinkedIn: “We’ve been supporting the Great British high street for 50 years.
“As we continue our international expansion programme, we are committed to opening a shop on the Falkland Islands – taking our iconic British frozen quality and value to the Falklanders. Watch this space.”
Argentinian President Javier Milei reopened the bitter row over the ownership of the territory on Friday, when he said “we need to recover” the islands.
In a televised address, Milei said: “The Falklands are Argentinian. Historically and legally. There can be no argument. They are part of the Argentine territory.
“The islanders on their usurped territory do not have a legitimate right to self-determination and any argument on any such self-determination is invalid.”
But senior government ministers hit back at Milei’s claims, reiterating their support for the self-determination of the islands’ residents.
“The Islands are British and will remain so because that is the overwhelming position of the islanders,” foreign secretary Ed Miliband wrote. Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said the UK’s commitment to the territory is “absolute and unshakeable”.
Iceland eyes new customers
Iceland would become the first British grocer to set up shop on the Falkland Islands, which has a population of about 3,600 people.
The territory has no big-name retailers, but Iceland and Waitrose products are stocked at the West Store, a supermarket in Stanley, the capital of the Falklands.
The territory’s traditional cuisine includes grilled sea trout, which is blackened in cajun spices or wrapped in ham. Iceland is not known for its fresh fish, but it does offer 28 fish fingers for £3.
The ‘fresh fish’ section of the supermarket’s website features one product: 16 crab-style sticks, which are available for £1.85.
Iceland boss Richard Walker has made a number of high-profile political interventions in recent months. He had served as a cost-of-living advisor to then-Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, but quit this role shortly after Andy Burnham entered Downing Street.
Walker has urged the government to impose a profit cap on energy firms, slash taxes facing business and scrap the triple lock on the state pension.
Speaking in the House of Lords earlier this week, he called on the Prime Minister to encourage more young people away from benefits and into work. “Britain cannot redistribute its way to prosperity,” he said.