Justin King to headline GCA Conference 2027
Former Sainsbury’s CEO Justin King CBE has been confirmed as one of the headline speakers at the Garden Centre Association’s (GCA) annual conference in January 2027.
King will address delegates on leadership, transformation and customer-focused retail during the event at the Crowne Plaza, Stratford-upon-Avon, from January 24–27.
GCA Chairman Ben Harrison said King’s experience leading one of the UK’s best-known retailers would provide valuable insights for garden centre businesses.
King is best known for his decade as CEO of J Sainsbury plc, where he led the retailer’s highly successful turnaround through the ‘Making Sainsbury’s Great Again’ strategy.
Under his leadership, the supermarket achieved sustained growth, improved performance and strengthened its position in the UK grocery market.
Before joining Sainsbury’s, King was Director of Food at Marks & Spencer and has also held senior roles with Asda, PepsiCo and Mars.
GCA CEO Peter Burks said King’s expertise in leadership, customer behaviour and business transformation aligns closely with the opportunities and challenges facing the garden centre sector.
Tickets for the 2027 GCA Conference go on sale on June 22, 2026, with an early bird discount available until the end of July.
The annual event attracts hundreds of delegates from across the UK for networking, industry insight and presentations from leading speakers.
For further information, please visit www.gca.org.uk.