Grocery Codes Adjudicator, Christine Tacon speaks to food executives

The snow failed to deter 40 senior executives from the food sector gathering in Huntingdon for a dinner at which Christine Tacon, the Government’s Groceries Code Adjudicator gave a report on her progress and her plans for the future.

The dinner was hosted by recruitment specialists MorePeople, Barclays Corporate and Roythornes Solicitors.

The position of Groceries Code Adjudicator was established in 2013 to bring some order to the relationship between the major supermarkets and their direct suppliers. Over the last few weeks she has had a high profile in the media as revelations about supermarket practices have come to light. It’s also been confirmed recently that she will be been given the powers to fine supermarkets up to 1% of their turnover for serious breaches of the Groceries Supply Code of Practice.

Speaking about the event, Peter Hunt from MorePeople said:

“It was a very good evening. Christine has a very important role in one of the largest sectors of our economy and to hear her giving her views on how her role has been developing over her first year was informative and enlightening.”


Peter Bennett, Head of Roythornes Food team said:

“The fact that there were so many senior level people from the food sector in the room shows how important the relationship is between suppliers and the supermarkets and how Christine’s role is developing.”

Steve Brown from Barclays Corporate said:

“The appointment of the Adjudicator is a positive step forward into introducing more transparency into the supplier / retailer relationship.”

In the discussion after the dinner Christine emphasised the need for suppliers to come forward with their concerns without the fear of reprisals from retailers. Later this year she plans to undertake a major survey amongst the UK’s 8000 supermarket suppliers and encouraged those in the room to share their views.