Farmers get a say on fairness in the supply chain

Farmers and growers have less than a fortnight left to have their say about how they are treated by retailers amid growing calls from industry for more fairness in the supply chain.

The Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA) Mark White wants to hear from as many suppliers as possible about their dealings with the 14 large retailers.

The survey covers a range of themes and the responses will help Mr White understand the ongoing impact of inflation and other issues affecting suppliers.

See also: OFC 2023: Report seeks fairness for farmers in food supply chain

The information, which can be sent anonymously, will allow the supermarket ombudsman to assess whether retailers have complied with the Groceries Supply Code of Practice.

Since the last survey, carried out in 2022, inflation has continued to affect the entire groceries sector, straining the relationships between retailers and suppliers.

Mr White said he was concerned about how the retailers are responding to requests for cost price increases (CPIs) and whether this pressure was causing other issues to arise.

“I want to hear from as many suppliers as possible so I can understand the ongoing impact of inflation and other issues affecting suppliers,” he added.

“This will help me to work with the retailers to ensure they are treating all suppliers fairly and lawfully.”

The survey, run by independent polling company YouGov, is open online until 26 February. The results will be posted later this year.