David Zell

THE top bosses of grocery giant Ocado were confronted at the company’s AGM after campaigners against a new depot signed up as shareholders.

Parents at Yerbury Primary School have been fighting the firm’s attempts to open the new facility at the Bush industrial estate in Station Road, Tufnell Park for four years – and the NOcado group is preparing for a further battle in front of the planning inspectorate next month.

But shots were fired before that as campaig­ners made sure they got to speak at Ocado’s annual general meeting last Monday in Gresham Street, Barbican.

David Zell, who was allocated shares through an activism group in order to be able to speak, told the board the company’s ongoing efforts to install a 24/7 depot just metres from his grandchildren’s school was bad for business.

He said the case was “damaging Ocado – reputationally and commercially,” and claimed the ongoing legal battle has so far cost the grocer £5million.

Bill Eyres

In response, the community has so far raised tens of thousands fighting the proposals – opposed due to fears of endless lorry journeys and polluted streets.

“Your application has been rejected five times – three times by the Council, once by the High Court, once by the Court of Appeals and you’re now taking it to the Planning Inspectorate in June,” Mr Zell said.​

“There is a right place for depots. The Bush Estate is frankly crazy.”

NOcado member and shareholder Bill Eyres asked whether directors would welcome a depot next to their own children’s school.

Speaking after the meeting, Mr Zell said: “We got our three questions in and created a clearly very uncomfor­table experience for the Board. There was much fidgeting and directors looking at each other – especially the non-execs.

Mark Turner

“The chair noted after each question that he understood how emotive the case was for the questioners but only responded to one specific question by confirming that the Board did have discussions about the whole case in the past.

“Another non-Board exec member told us afterwards that this was some time ago but it is now guaranteed to be discussed again! After the third question the chair said: “The culture you describe (bullying) is not one that I recognise as Ocado, the company I chair.”

An Ocado spokesman said: “Ocado is committed to having a positive impact on the local community. This would be the greenest and quietest grocery facility in the UK, and we would commit to using an 100 per cent electric van fleet – replacing the vans that currently deliver in the area – and install a green ‘living wall’ along the boundary (with the school). It would also create around 300 new jobs for the local economy.”

NOcado need to raise £40,000 by mid May to pay for representation at the Planning Inspectorate hearing next month and have launched a crowdfunder.