Groceries Code Adjudicator launches new supplier survey

By Arabella Mileham

Published: 23 March, 2015

The Grocers Code Adjudicator has launched a new survey which it says will provide a comprehensive perspective on supplier/retailer relations,

The Grocers Code Adjudicator has launched a new survey which it says will provide a comprehensive perspective on supplier/retailer relations.

The anonymous survey is being conducted by YouGov and will be open until 1 May. Based on last year's survey but with additional questions, it has been designed to encourage suppliers to talk about retailer they deal with, to pinpoint problem areas and to measure the impact made by the GSOP over the last twelve months.

"The survey is a vital tool for suppliers to inform the GCA's current and future work programme in tackling Code-related issues," the GCA said. "It is completely anonymous, so suppliers can speak freely about their experiences with retailers, what they think needs to change and provide their views on the GCA."

The findings will be presented at the GCA conference on 22 June.

The GCA has launched a survey for suppliers The GCA is encouraging suppliers to take part in the annual survey

GCA Christine Tacon said it was her ambition to achieve a more collaborative working relationships between retailers and suppliers and the survey played an important role in identifying the key issues facing suppliers as well as measuring how much progress is being made.

It would also identify the priority issues for the year ahead, she said and spot trends. She urged suppliers to take part.

"The more responses I receive on the survey the more comprehensive a picture I will have of the industry and the issues I have to raise with the retailers," she said.

The GCA's first annual survey last year saw less than 400 direct suppliers take part. Only 574 people took part in total, with only 381 direct suppliers and 147 indirect suppliers. It identified variation of supply agreements, unjustified charges for customer complaints, contributing to marketing costs, delays in payment and forecasting errors as the leading issues facing suppliers. It also identified four key areas critical for success of the GCA, including culture change to collaborative approach; feeling able to raise issues with retailers; greater influence for suppliers; and supply chain efficiency.

In a survey conducted on wine and spirit suppliers by Harpers.co.uk, around a third of suppliers named Tesco, the largest retailer of wine in the UK, as the worst retailer to work with. It showed suppliers' deep disatisfaction with the way they are treated by retailers with 95% calling for immediate and long-lasting reforms.

In January, the government belatedly awarded the GCA power to fine retailers up to 1% of their turnover for breaching the GSCOP.

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