Guidance

Groceries (Supply Chain Practices) Market Investigation Order

This order requires the UK's large grocery retailers to follow the Groceries Supply Code of Practice.

• From: Competition and Markets Authority
• Published: 4 August 2009
• Last updated: 25 October 2022 — See all updates

Documents

Groceries (Supply Chain Practices) Market Investigation Order 2009

PDF, 192 KB, 19 pages

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Explanatory Note

PDF, 135 KB, 12 pages

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Report on compliance with the Order

PDF, 269 KB, 13 pages

Details

UPDATE: from 5 August 2019 Ocado Retail Ltd now carries on the whole or a substantial part of the business formerly carried on by Ocado Group plc and therefore, by virtue of Articles 4(1)(b) and 4(1)(c) of the Order, from the date of this notice Ocado Retail Ltd is a designated retailer, as defined in Article 2 of the Order and is required to comply with the Order and the Code.

UPDATE: From 1 March 2019 Lidl GB Ltd carries on the whole, or a substantial part, of the business formerly carried on by Lidl UK GmbH and therefore, by virtue of Article 4(1)(c) of the Order, from that date Lidl GB Ltd is a designated retailer, as defined in the Order and is required to comply with the Order and the Code.

The 10 largest grocery retailers in the UK are required to comply with the Groceries (Supply Chain Practices) Market Investigation Order 2009 (the Order) and the Groceries Supply Code of Practice (GSCOP). The Order and the GSCOP are designed to reduce potential consumer detriment. They control practices that transfer excessive risks and unexpected costs to suppliers, and have an impact on suppliers’ quality, innovation and willingness to invest.

The Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA) deals with issues related to the GSCOP.

The Order also requires:

• all supply agreements to be in writing
• the introduction of a disputes mechanism
• compliance reports to be sent to the CMA and the GCA

The CMA’s report

The Competition and Markets Authority’s (CMA) report on compliance summarises the main observations of the CMA’s review of the 10 Designated Retailers’ Groceries Supply Agreements. It also includes a checklist to help Designated Retailers in dealing with suppliers and compliance with Supply Agreements.

CMA designation decisions under the Groceries (Supply Chain Practices) Market Investigation Order 2009

• Notice of Designation for Amazon.com, Incorporated
• Notice of Designation for B&M European Value Retail S.A.
• Notice of Designation for TJ Morris Ltd (Home Bargains)
• Notice of Designation for Ocado Retail Ltd
• Notice of de-designation of Ocado Group plc

CMA response to BEIS’ statutory review consultation on the Groceries Code Adjudicator

The CMA has published its response to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS)’s statutory review consultation on the Groceries Code Adjudicator.

Published 4 August 2009
Last updated 25 October 2022 + show all updates

1. 25 October 2022

   A link to the CMA response to BEIS’ statutory review consultation on the Groceries Code Adjudicator has been added to the page.

2. 12 July 2016

   Report on compliance with the Order published.

3. 4 August 2009

   First published.