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'Fear' of retribution a challenge for the Grocery Code Adjudicator in getting suppliers to come forward

Published:  23 June, 2015

Fear of retribution from retailers is the biggest reason suppliers are not raising issues with the Groceries Code Adjudicator, according to a survey by regulator.

Fear of retribution from major retailers is the biggest reason suppliers are not raising issues with the Groceries Code Adjudicator, according to a survey by the regulator.

It said that 47% of direct suppliers would "consider raising issues" with the GCA, a jump from 38% in 2014.

The number of suppliers who responded to the survey who said that they would not consider raising issues with the GCA remained the same at 18%.

Of those, 68% of suppliers said "you fear retribution" was the main reason they would not.

Christine Tacon, the Grocery Code Adjudicator, told a conference in London that building trust with suppliers as well as working with retailers was critical to the success of her role.

Tacon admitted that it is challenge to get suppliers to come forward. She said: "How do you get suppliers to talk to you?"

She added that ensuring confidentiality was essential. "I have a legal duty to protect them," Tacon said, and added that more suppliers coming forward meant it would be harder for retailers to identify whistle blowers.

Some 45% of respondents said they would not raise an issue with GCA because they were "not confident the GCA will maintain confidentiality", while 36% didn't "think the GCA will be able to do anything" even if they reported a breach.

David Sable, chief executive officer of Sentinel Management Consultants, suggested that having retailer's in-house code compliance officers as the first point-of-contact was a potential barrier to complaints being made. 

Sable said: "There is a climate of fear and an aspect of futility."

Tacon is hosting seminars in an effort to help suppliers better understand the code and their rights. The next seminar for suppliers will be hosted on 29 September.

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