Registry · SBRY.L

Does J Sainsbury plc support Israel?

Support documentedupdated 2026-07-29

Yes — J Sainsbury plc has documented support for Israel on record. Every claim below links to its source.

Filed under: Retail & supermarket chains · Companies that support Israel

Background

Sainsbury's appears in boycott debates because it is a large UK grocer that stocks Israeli produce — routine retail sourcing that campaigners treat as support. Its documented corporate stance is refusal to boycott: the chairman told the 2013 AGM no ban on Israeli goods would be considered, and the company calls itself non-political, saying it does not source from Israeli settlements. During the August 2014 Gaza-war protests, staff at the Holborn, London branch removed kosher products (many UK-made) from shelves fearing protesters; the company said it was 'an isolated decision made in a very challenging situation' by local staff, and the products were restored — a local staff action, not company policy, which drew criticism from Jewish groups and an apology. The Palestine Solidarity Campaign has run a dedicated Sainsbury's pressure campaign since 2013 over Israeli suppliers such as Mehadrin. No donations by J Sainsbury plc to the Israeli state, army or Israel-linked charities were found; its Israel connection is commercial produce sourcing plus a stated refusal to boycott.

The Jewish Chronicle — Sainsbury's rejects calls for a ban on Israeli goods Jewish News — Sainsbury's embroiled in backlash against Israel Palestine Solidarity Campaign — Sainsbury's campaign Times of Israel — UK supermarkets and BDS

Timeline of documented support

20142013-07 — Public statement: Israeli suppliers (boycott calls rejected at AGM)Public statement2013-072014 — Operations in Israel: Israeli produce suppliers (dates, citrus, herbs and other fresh produce)Operations in Israel2014

Documented support

TypeDateAmountRecipientSources
Public statement2013-07—Israeli suppliers (boycott calls rejected at AGM)
At J Sainsbury's July 2013 annual general meeting, chairman David Tyler rejected campaigners' calls for a boycott, saying no ban on Israeli goods would be considered, while chief executive Justin King said the company did not source any products from Israeli settlements in the West Bank. Sainsbury's framed its position commercially: 'As a non-political organisation, we source our products according to their ability to meet our quality, safety and ethical standards... We prefer to give our customers the opportunity to make their own decision in terms of the products they buy.'
Operations in Israel2014—Israeli produce suppliers (dates, citrus, herbs and other fresh produce)
Sainsbury's has long stocked own-brand fresh produce sourced from Israel, including dates supplied by Israeli exporters such as Mehadrin, and has kept selling Israeli goods through the Palestine Solidarity Campaign's boycott pressure campaign running since 2013 and the renewed protests during the 2014 and 2023–24 Gaza wars. The company states it does not source from Israeli settlements and labels country of origin per UK guidance; campaigners dispute how fully supplier chains separate settlement produce. This is routine commercial sourcing, not a donation.

Frequently asked questions

Did J Sainsbury plc donate money to Israel or Israeli causes?

We have no records of cash donations, but J Sainsbury plc has documented support of other kinds (Public statement, Operations in Israel). See the records on this page.

Where does this information come from?

Every record on this page links to its source — news reports, official company statements, tax filings, or government records. 6 distinct sources are cited for J Sainsbury plc. Our methodology page explains the full verification process.

Sources & citations

Record last updated: 2026-07-29

Companies with documented support