Witness protection needed for grocery code

At the British Frozen Food Federation’s annual conference in Warwickshire last week, the former trade minister was asked his opinion of the proposed GSCOP adjudicator.

Jones responded: “Are they also going to introduce a witness protection programme?”​

He said rough treatment of suppliers was an inevitable consequence of the power of the big retail multiples in the grocery supply chain. “The problem with dominance is that it brings bullying with it.”​

Too afraid​

He was careful to stress his apolitical stance, but went on to argue that the entire GSCOP system depended on those suffering abuses of power being willing to voice their grievances. He questioned whether they would do so, as, regardless of any guarantees of anonymity, injured parties might still be too afraid of being identified to raise problems.

“If you are going to have an independent commissioner, it isn’t going to work unless people complain,”​ said Jones. “Turkeys do not vote for Christmas.”​

Talking to FoodManufacture.co.uk after Jones’s observations, Iceland Foods buying director Nigel Broadhurst said retailers - aside from the top players in the market - might also need protecting against large branded suppliers. He raised doubts as to whether the GSCOP adjudicator would treat both equally.

Unfair and one-sided​

“I think it’s completely unfair and one-sided,”​ said Broadhurst.“If I have a complaint against one of the major suppliers he​ [the adjudicator] is only interested in being a protector ​[to suppliers]. That’s got to be wrong.​

“If somebody decided they wanted to put​ [product] price up 20% in comparison to what they were doing at Tesco and Asda, we would have absolutely no recourse.”​

The comments followed Sainsbury chief executive Justin King’s blast against proposals for a GSCOP adjudicator at the 2012 City Food Lecture at London’s Guildhall on February 15.

King argued the move would undermine competition between grocery retailers, which was necessary to achieve the lowest possible cost of goods for consumers.

To read King’s comments, click here​.