The following two letters were sent to Mr Simon Roberts, the Chief Executive of J Sainsbury plc. The first, dated 29th November 2024, raises a concern regarding Sainsbury’s supply chain and its potential involvement with Arla Foods, a supplier that has begun incorporating the controversial additive Bovaer into its cattle feed. The second, dated 20th January 2025, follows up after nearly two months of complete silence from Sainsbury’s leadership.

Dr Gabb is not just a customer of Sainsbury’s. He is a shareholder. His capital helps fund the salaries of the people employed to run the company—including that of Mr Roberts, who was evidently too disorganised, or too arrogant to provide even a short response.

Let us begin with the letters:

Letter 1: 29 November 2024

Friday, 29 November 2024

Simon Roberts
Chief Executive
J Sainsbury plc
33 Holborn
London EC1N 2HT

Dear Mr Roberts,

I write as a customer of Sainsbury and as a shareholder in the company. I have read that several of your competitors do business with Arla Foods, which supplies much of this country’s milk under various brands. This company has begun to use the experimental and controversial additive Bovaer in the feed given to cows, and thus in much of the milk and dairy produce sold in this country.

I understand that the purpose of Bovaer is to reduce the methane emissions of cows, thereby reducing their “carbon footprint.”

Like many other people in this country, I do not believe in the global warming hypothesis. I believe this hypothesis is based on lies put out to enrich certain special interest groups while impoverishing and enslaving ordinary people. I certainly do not believe that the farts and burps of cows are likely to have any effect on the climate.

I am also told that Bovaer has potentially catastrophic effects on the health of the cows to which it is fed and of humans who consume the milk of such cows. The effects on humans may include male infertility and cancer.

For these reasons and others, I am glad to read that J Sainsbury plc does not do business with Arla foods. I hope you can further confirm that you will do no business with any other supplier that uses Bovaer in its cattle feed, and that no products that involve the use of Bovaer will be offered to your customers.

As said, I write as a customer and as a shareholder. I am particularly interested in your answer in my capacity as a shareholder, as I do not wish to go in person to the next annual general meeting of J Sainsbury plc to ask these and other questions in person.

Yours sincerely,

Dr Sean Gabb

Letter 2: 20 January 2025

Monday, 20 January 2025

Simon Roberts
Chief Executive
J Sainsbury plc
33 Holborn
London EC1N 2HT

Dear Mr Roberts,

I wrote to you on Friday the 29th November 2024 about a matter of great importance to me and many other people. I wrote in my capacity as a shareholder in Sainsbury. I attach a copy of my letter.

I have still not received a reply to my letter. I am sure that you would be most concerned if one of your subordinates did not reply to you after nearly two months. Well, Mr Roberts, you are my employee. Your salary is paid from the revenue stream generated from the use of my capital. When I write to you, I expect a reply.

I look forward to your immediate reply to my letter of the 29th November 2024. An explanation of the long delay would also be welcome.

Yours sincerely,

Dr Sean Gabb

And yet, despite this second letter, Sainsbury’s remains silent.

This is no administrative oversight. It is an act of contempt. Mr Roberts and his executives clearly believe that they are above answering to the people who own the company. They collect millions in salaries and bonuses, yet cannot be bothered to dictate a response to a legitimate inquiry.

It is worth reiterating:

• Mr Roberts’ salary is funded by the shareholders.
• He is an employee, not a feudal lord.
• His refusal to answer shareholder correspondence is negligence.
• If a subordinate ignored his emails for two months, there would be consequences.

Why should he be treated any differently?

If the Chief Executive of a company cannot ensure that legitimate shareholder inquiries are acknowledged, what is he being paid for? If the basic machinery of communication is too much for him to manage, why should he continue to be rewarded with an excessive salary?

It is for this reason that Dr Gabb will be attending the next Sainsbury’s Annual General Meeting to propose a 25 per cent reduction in the CEO’s salary.

This is not an act of vindictiveness. It is simply an appropriate consequence for professional failure. The executives of Sainsbury’s have demonstrated incompetence in their communication with shareholders. A reduction in their inflated salaries is the logical remedy.

corporation exists to serve its owners, not to function as the private fief of its management. The executives who run it are servants of the shareholders, not untouchable lords. If they have lost sight of this, they must be reminded.

If Mr Roberts still refuses to respond, then the next step is to mobilise other shareholders to impose further financial penalties. If the people at the top of Sainsbury’s cannot manage the courtesy of a letter, then perhaps it is time they were replaced with individuals who understand their responsibilities.