October 2023: Record of the Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA) progress meetings with Code Compliance Officers (CCOs)
Published 1 November 2023
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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 16 October 2023
- Marks and Spencer plc
1.2 Wednesday 18 October 2023
- Tesco plc
1.3 Thursday 19 October 2023
- Amazon.com, Inc.
- Iceland Foods Ltd
1.4 Friday 20 October 2023
- Asda Stores Ltd
1.5 Monday 23 October 2023
- B&M European Value Retail SA
- Wm Morrison Supermarkets Ltd
1.6 Thursday 26 October 2023
- Lidl GB Ltd
- Ocado Retail Ltd
1.7 Friday 27 October 2023
- Co-operative Group Ltd
1.8 Monday 30 October 2023
- J Sainsbury plc
- Waitrose Ltd
1.9 Tuesday 31 October 2023
- Aldi Stores Ltd
- TJ Morris Ltd (trading as Home Bargains)
2. Key points
2.1 Retailer update
CCOs provided updates to the GCA about compliance activities including actions from the July 2023 meetings, reported Code-related issues, topical issues and any upcoming initiatives likely to generate enquiries to the GCA.
2.2 2023 GCA survey results
The GCA and Retailers discussed progress against the delivery of Retailer plans to address areas of concern from the 2023 annual survey and how those plans ensure fair and lawful treatment of suppliers.
2.3 Cost price negotiations
Retailers updated the GCA about price increase and decrease negotiations with their suppliers. These updates included the volume of negotiations about increases and decreases and the time taken by the Retailer to acknowledge, substantively respond to, and implement agreed cost price increase requests. The GCA reminded Retailers about the 7 Golden Rules for cost price increase negotiations, the principles of which should apply to cost price decrease negotiations.
2.4 Supply Chain Structures
The GCA and Retailers discussed supply chain structures for fresh produce, including any addition or removal of consolidators, buying or marketing desks and any consequent affording or removal of the protections of the Code to businesses in the supply chain.
2.5 Audit claims
The GCA and Retailers discussed retrospective audit claim levels and Retailers’ progress toward best practice in handling claims (including supplier-initiated claims).
2.6 Commitment to Confidentiality
The GCA and Retailers discussed Retailers’ work to make their suppliers aware of the CCO confidentiality commitment and to ensure that suppliers can raise issues with the Retailer confident that they will face no negative consequences.
2.7 Any other business
The GCA and Retailers discussed any other business specific to Retailers.