Edition 40: News from the Adjudicator
Source: gov.uk (2025-07-23)

Read the latest newsletter from the Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA).

I am pleased to be updating you about recent news from the GCA, including the commencement of a statutory investigation, the publication of the 2025 survey results and the launch of registration for my 2025 annual conference (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/gca-annual-conference-2025).

Amazon investigation

On 20 June 2025, I launched a targeted investigation (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/groceries-code-adjudicator-launches-investigation-into-amazon) into whether Amazon has delayed payments to suppliers, in breach of Paragraph 5 of the Groceries Code (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/groceries-supply-code-of-practice/groceries-supply-code-of-practice#no-delay-in-payments). I decided to launch the investigation based on the range of evidence I had seen from multiple sources.

Delays in payment can significantly harm suppliers, potentially exposing suppliers to excessive risk and unexpected costs and affecting suppliers’ ability to invest and innovate.

The investigation will cover the extent to which paragraph 5 of the Code may have been breached; any impact of Amazon’s conduct on suppliers; and the root causes of any issues.

The call for evidence closes on 8 August 2025, so there’s still plenty of time for direct suppliers and other stakeholders to confidentially respond and provide information about your experiences with Amazon. Thank you to those who have already provided evidence.

For further information, including on how to respond and the confidentiality that applies to all responses, please view the Notice of Investigation (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/groceries-code-adjudicator-investigation-into-amazoncom-inc).

Survey results

I also published my 2025 survey results (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/gca-survey-shows-continued-improved-treatment-of-grocery-suppliers) last month.

The survey is an important tool for understanding perceptions of Code compliance across the 14 large designated retailers and tackling the most prevalent issues. Thank you to everyone who took the time to complete the survey at the beginning of the year.

I am pleased that the results show improved Code compliance across the sector. The number of suppliers suffering Code issues fell from 33% in 2024 to 30% in 2025. The average perceived Code compliance across the retailers rose from 91% to 93% with improvements at the five retailers with the perceived lowest Code compliance in 2024. For the first time at least 90% of suppliers perceived that 13 retailers were Code compliant all or most of the time.

There was also a fall in the number of suppliers experiencing several issues. Some of the standout improvements include:
- delays in payments (11% of suppliers from 14% in 2024)
- inadequate processes and procedures to enable invoice discrepancies to be promptly resolved (17% of suppliers from 21% in 2024)
- undisputed invoices not paid according to agreed terms (9% of suppliers from 12% in 2024).
You can find further detail in the information pack (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/685a8730e9509f1a908eb0f8/GCA_2025_information_pack.pdf) published on the GCA website.

I have recently begun my regular round of meetings with each of the Code Compliance Officers. I have asked each of them to explain at the meetings how they will respond to their individual survey results. I will hold the large retailers to account to ensure that they deliver changes that resolve issues and improve Code compliance.

YouGov carried out the survey and is now conducting a series of deep dive interviews with suppliers to provide further detail about their experiences. YouGov will present their findings at my conference, details below.

Conference

Registration is now open for the GCA Annual Conference 2025 (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/gca-annual-conference-2025) which will take place on Tuesday 30 September.

The conference will bring together the 14 large retailers, suppliers and industry experts to reflect on changes to the groceries sector, ongoing challenges, support available for suppliers and future priorities. To register, please visit the GCA website (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/gca-annual-conference-2025).

I look forward to meeting many of you and hearing your views and questions in September.

Annual Report and Accounts

I published my Annual Report and Accounts (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/gca-publishes-202425-annual-report) on Friday 18 July. The report covers the GCA’s work during 2024/25 to ensure that the designated retailers treat their suppliers fairly and lawfully.

Find out more on the GCA website (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/gca-publishes-202425-annual-report).

Statutory review

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) has launched a consultation as part of its fourth statutory review of the GCA. DBT seeks evidence, including about how the GCA has performed its statutory obligations from 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2025.

The consultation closes on 5 August 2025. Find out more and respond to the consultation (https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/groceries-code-adjudicator-gca-statutory-review-2022-to-2025#:~:text=The%20Groceries%20Code%20Adjudicator%20(%20GCA,s%20powers%20have%20been%20exercised)).

Further information
- If you are reading this on the GCA website but want to receive future newsletters by email, you can sign up here (https://enquiries-53e25.gr8.com/).
- You can follow the GCA LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/groceries-code-adjudicator) and X (https://twitter.com/UKGCA) accounts to keep up to date with the latest news, information, and events.
- I recommend that all suppliers undertake Code training. You can view the Code trainers I am aware of here (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/groceries-code-training-providers).
- Elizabeth Granger is the new Code Compliance Officer at TJ Morris (trading as Home Bargains). Elizabeth’s and all the Code Compliance Officers’ contact details are available on the GCA website (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/code-compliance-officer-contact-details/code-compliance-officer-contact-details#code-compliance-officer-commitment-to-confidentiality-and-protecting-relationships-with-suppliers).
Getting in touch

If you would like to get in touch with me and the GCA team confidentially, please email xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx) or report issues anonymously 24/7 via telltheGCA.co.uk (https://tellthegca.co.uk/).

Mark White