Farming
Groceries Code Adjudicator is making a difference
A YouGov survey carried out on behalf of the Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA) shows a drop in the number of Groceries Code related issues in suppliers’ dealings with the ten large retailers – down from 79% to 70% in the past year.
At the same time a larger proportion of suppliers said they would consider raising issues with the GCA (up 9% to 47%) but concerns about retribution were still the dominant reason for holding back.
Adjudicator, Christine Tacon, has hailed the figures as signs of making a difference in a challenging year for suppliers and retailers. She described the past year as one of milestones – including the launch of the GCA’s first investigation – and said her collaborative approach with the retailers was making a difference.
However, a disturbing issue highlighted by the survey was the low number of suppliers receiving training in the Groceries Supply Code of Practice – overall 29% with only 9% of the smallest suppliers being trained.
Ms Tacon comments: “Retailer buyers are well-trained in the Code, so for a supplier to challenge a request or requirement as non-Code compliant, they need to know their rights. In this coming year I will be encouraging all the relevant trade associations to play a stronger leadership role in relation to the Code by offering training for their members.”