March 2024: Record of the Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA) progress meetings with Code Compliance Officers (CCOs)
Published 28 March 2024
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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 Monday 11 March 2024
- Co-operative Group Ltd
- Lidl GB Ltd
1.2 Wednesday 13 March 2024
- B&M European Value Retail SA
- Waitrose Ltd
1.3 Friday 15 March 2024
- Iceland Foods Ltd
1.4 Monday 18 March 2024
- Tesco plc
1.5 Tuesday 19 March 2024
- Amazon.com, Inc
- TJ Morris Ltd (trading as Home Bargains)
1.6 Thursday 21 March 2024
- Marks and Spencer plc
1.7 Friday 22 March 2024
- Aldi Stores Ltd
- J Sainsbury plc
1.8 Monday 25 March 2024
- Ocado Retail Ltd
- Wm Morrison Supermarkets Ltd
1.9 Thursday 28 March 2024
- Asda Stores Ltd
2. Key points
2.1 Retailer update
CCOs provided updates to the GCA about compliance activities including actions from the October 2023 meetings, reported Code-related issues, topical issues, and any upcoming initiatives likely to generate enquiries to the GCA.
Following discussions at previous progress meetings, the GCA and Retailers discussed Retailers’ fair handling of cost price increase and cost price decrease requests.
2.2 2023 and 2024 GCA Survey
The GCA and Retailers discussed how Retailers are addressing areas of concern identified in the GCA’s 2023 annual survey of suppliers. These discussions included Retailer updates about progress against agreed actions to ensure fair and lawful treatment of suppliers and about any feedback from suppliers about changes made by Retailers.
The GCA updated Retailers about the 2024 survey and discussed how the GCA and Retailers would use the findings, when published, to improve Code compliance.
2.3 Supply Chain Structures
The GCA and Retailers discussed supply chain structures and the use of intermediaries.
The GCA asked about the degree of control that Retailers exert over subsidiary suppliers where an intermediary is in place, explaining that he is interested in which businesses are likely to be the direct suppliers that receive the protections of the Code.
Retailers provided any updates about the addition or removal of intermediaries and any possible consequent affording to, or removal from, businesses in the supply chain of the protections of the Code. The GCA explained that he is interested in any potential changes to the group of businesses to which the Code applies.
2.4 Audit claims
The GCA and Retailers discussed retrospective audit claim levels and Retailers’ progress in handling claims (including supplier-initiated claims).
2.5 Any other business
The GCA and Retailers discussed any other business specific to each Retailer.