June/July 2021: Record of the Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA) progress meetings with Code Compliance Officers (CCO)
Published 15 July 2021
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1. Attendees
The GCA (Mark White) and members of his team met with the CCOs and other representatives from the designated retailers (Retailers) as follows:
1.1 Tuesday 15 June 2021
- J Sainsbury plc
- Ocado Retail Ltd
1.2 Thursday 17 June 2021
- Marks and Spencer plc
1.3 Friday 18 June 2021
- Aldi Stores Ltd
- Co-operative Group Ltd
1.4 Tuesday 22 June 2021
- B&M European Value Retail SA
- Wm Morrison Supermarkets plc
- Tesco plc
1.5 Thursday 24 June 2021
- Lidl GB Ltd
1.6 Friday 25 June 2021
- TJ Morris Ltd (trading as Home Bargains)
- Iceland Foods Ltd
- Waitrose Ltd
1.7 Thursday 15 July 2021
- Asda Stores Ltd
2. Key points raised
2.1 Updates from March progress meetings
The GCA and Retailers discussed any issues arising from CCO progress meetings held in March 2021.
2.2 Whole-house compliance
The GCA and Retailers discussed the GCA’s focus on whole-house compliance, including the role of Retailers’ leadership teams in ensuring a culture of compliance, improvements in training, and links between training, remuneration, compliance and assurance.
2.3 Audit claims
The GCA and Retailers discussed Retailers’ retrospective audit claims processes and issues raised by suppliers in this area, including the settlement of counterclaims. The GCA informed Retailers that he would continue examining this issue.
2.4 Issues in Retailers’ progress reports to the GCA
The GCA and Retailers discussed issues covered in Retailers’ progress reports to the GCA.
2.5 Issues raised by direct suppliers
The GCA highlighted retailer-specific and sector-wide issues being raised by direct suppliers including:
- Range rationalisation and reviews
- High in Fat, Salt, and Sugar legislation
- Trading terms & conditions
- Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging
- EU Exit
2.6 Any other business
2021 Annual Survey
The GCA discussed with each Retailer the results of his annual survey, including use of the results by Retailers to improve compliance.
Levy 2021/22
The GCA informed Retailers that following the laying of his Annual Report and Accounts for 2020/21 before Parliament he would be issuing invoices to Retailers for the 2021/22 levy.
Communications update
The GCA updated retailers on recent and planned communications including published newsletters, a planned webinar and his intention to attend events as COVID-19 restrictions are lifted.
Annual conference
The GCA explained his plans for an online conference in September 2021 and how CCOs will be able to participate.
Annual Compliance Reports
The GCA discussed with each Retailer submission of Annual Compliance Reports.