Read the latest newsletter from the Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA).
GCA 2026 annual conference
My annual conference is taking place on Tuesday 29 September.
The conference will bring together suppliers, retailers and industry representatives. It will reflect on the GCA's work to ensure fair treatment of suppliers and on the support available to suppliers, including how they can raise issues in confidence. YouGov will also present a detailed analysis of the 2026 annual survey results.
Register to attend the conference here .
Managing Cost Price Increases
Inflation has been in the headlines in recent months and I am mindful that many in the groceries sector are closely watching costs and prices every day. I have heard from both suppliers and the designated retailers how rising costs are impacting their businesses.
Cost prices are negotiated and agreed between retailers and their direct suppliers. Neither the Groceries Code nor the GCA determine the outcome of those negotiations. I am determined though that the process of negotiation be fair: prompt responses, no surprises, and appropriate use of evidence. My 7 Golden Rules, published in 2022, have shaped retailers' best practice, reducing suppliers' exposure to the excessive risks and unexpected costs that can prevent them from investing and innovating.
If costs rise in the coming months and the volume of Cost Price Increase (CPI) requests increases, then the retailers, suppliers, and the GCA all need to be ready.
I expect the retailers to get their processes right now before further CPI requests come through. The 7 Golden Rules are clear and in my recent meetings with all 14 Code Compliance Officers I have ensured that the retailers have built their CPI processes and buyer training around these Rules. Retailers clearly understand that they must conduct negotiations fairly.
Suppliers also have preparation to do, including understanding how the Code protects them. If you think a retailer has breached the Code or is not following the 7 Golden Rules, you can:
Contact the CCO . They will maintain your confidentiality and the retailers have all committed to ensuring you won't suffer negative consequences for raising an issue.
