Edition 36: News from the Adjudicator
Read the latest newsletter from the Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA).
The 2024 GCA supplier survey is now live!
I would like to hear from as many of you as possible about how you have been treated by the 14 large retailers before the survey closes on 25 February 2024.
The survey, run by the independent polling company YouGov, is one of the most important ways for direct and indirect suppliers and trade associations to confidentially tell the GCA about their experiences dealing with the large retailers. The questions cover the behaviour of individual designated retailers and issues affecting the sector.
Confidential responses to the survey will help me to understand which large retailers you perceive as the most and least Code compliant and the areas of greatest concern to you. I will use this information to focus the GCA’s engagement and to challenge concerning behaviour.
The 2023 survey
Responses to last year’s survey highlighted supplier concerns about the continued impact of inflation. 28% of respondents reported a refusal to consider a CPI or an unreasonable delay in reaching a decision on a CPI request, which was the most reported issue over the past six years.
My team and I subsequently engaged with all 14 large retailers to ensure they addressed these issues promptly and treated suppliers fairly during price negotiations.
Next steps
The survey is open until Sunday 25 February 2024 and the results will be announced later in 2024.
The GCA will also commission YouGov to conduct anonymous follow-up interviews with a select group of respondents to explore supplier concerns in more detail. If you would like to take part, please provide your consent and contact details at the end of the survey.
You can take part in the survey here.
Further information
If you would like to get in touch with me and the GCA team confidentially about the survey or any other issue, please email enquiries@groceriescode.gov.uk or report issues anonymously via telltheGCA.co.uk.
I look forward to hearing from you and to reading your 2024 survey responses.
Mark White