Head of Ocado, Tim Steiner, said Waitrose boss, Mark Price, has given him the cold shoulder after the online grocer made a deal with rival Morrison Supermarkets, The Telegraph reported.
Ocado, which looks after the online operations of Waitrose, has agreed to help Morrisons launch its first shopping website.
The reaction to the agreement has been a "joke", Steiner said after delivering the annual British Retail Consortium lecture.
Subscribe to MoneyWeek
Subscribe to MoneyWeek today and get your first six magazine issues absolutely FREE
Sign up to Money Morning
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
Steiner said Price is refusing to meet him and has been ignoring his emails and text messages.
His comments come after Waitrose said it was consulting lawyers and keeping a close watch on the Morrisons deal to make sure Ocado doesn't breach its contract with the premium supermarket.
Steiner added that Ocado's rise to the top has ruffled a few feathers at Waitrose.
"We have gone from a toddler to an unruly teenager. Now we are an adult," he stated.
"Sometimes the parent doesn't like it when the child grows up."
Waitrose said Price would meet Steiner but only after the grocer looked into the contract between Morrisons and Ocado.
RD
