Groceries Code Adjudicator launches investigation into Amazon
Source: gov.uk (2025-08-11)

Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA) investigation into whether Amazon.com, Inc. (Amazon) has breached paragraph 5 of the Code (No delay in Payments) in relation to certain of its practices.

The Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA) has today launched a targeted investigation (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/groceries-code-adjudicator-investigation-into-amazoncom-inc) into whether Amazon.com, Inc. (Amazon) has breached paragraph 5 (No delay in Payments) of the Groceries Code (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/groceries-supply-code-of-practice/groceries-supply-code-of-practice).

The GCA has reasonable grounds to suspect that Amazon has breached paragraph 5 of the Code (No delay in Payments) from 1 March 2022 to 20 June 2025. This is based on evidence from a range of sources.

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. In particular it will focus on the nature, extent and impact of practices which may have resulted in delays in payments including Amazon’s receipt of goods and payment processes, its processes for managing supplier concerns relating to deductions from payments, and its use of settlements of deductions in its commercial negotiations with suppliers.

The investigation will cover the period between Amazon’s designation (1 March 2022) and 20 June 2025 but will focus on the period since 1 January 2024, in order to have the fullest understanding of Amazon’s contemporaneous practices.

The Adjudicator Mark White said:

Delays in payment can significantly harm suppliers. The alleged delays could expose Amazon suppliers to excessive risk and unexpected costs, potentially affecting their ability to invest and innovate.

I decided to launch this targeted investigation based on the range of evidence I have seen from multiple sources. It will allow me to determine whether Amazon has breached paragraph 5 of the Groceries Code and the root cause of any breach.

I encourage all direct suppliers and other stakeholders to respond to my call for evidence and provide information about your experiences with Amazon. All responses will be completely confidential.

Prior engagement with Amazon

Having heard from suppliers reporting Code issues, the Adjudicator, Mark White, told Amazon in 2024 that it must take swift and comprehensive action to demonstrably comply with the Code.

The GCA then monitored actions taken by Amazon and heard further detailed evidence about experiences with Amazon. Based on this evidence it was clear that an investigation into compliance with paragraph 5 of the Groceries Code specifically was required.

Other Groceries Code issues at Amazon

The GCA has also received information about other issues at Amazon. The GCA is continuing to engage with Amazon as part of its ongoing collaborative approach and expects Amazon to take action to address these issues.

If a further investigation is necessary to resolve these issues, the GCA will not hesitate to launch one.

Next steps

The Adjudicator has called for direct suppliers and other stakeholders to respond to the GCA’s call for evidence to share experiences of supplying Amazon.

Submissions may be made by completing the GCA’s confidential questionnaire (https://dataroom.mills-reeve.com/millsandreeve/renderSmartForm.action?formId=3122fa8a-451c-4c8f-8b9d-c7f52c37a69c), or on paper or in electronic form submitted to the GCA at:

Groceries Code Adjudicator7th Floor, The Cabot25 Cabot SquareCanary WharfLondonE14 4QZE-mail to: xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx)

The call for evidence closed on 8 August 2025. All responses to the call for evidence will be treated as completely confidential.

Confidentiality and data protection

The GCA has a statutory duty to keep information, including information provided in response to its call for evidence confidential. The statutory guidance provides that information which identifies a supplier will be confidential unless that supplier waives confidentiality.

This means that no individual supplier or respondent to the call for evidence will be named, or otherwise be identifiable either in the report or in any other way to Amazon.

The GCA may refer in its investigation report or elsewhere to evidence from submissions in an anonymised way. That means that the GCA might refer to evidence provided, but not in any way that makes individuals or businesses identifiable.

The GCA may, under its statutory powers, request further information from respondents arising from the call for evidence.

Please be aware that information provided in response to the call for evidence may be the subject of a request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (or other UK legislation).

The GCA will process personal data in accordance with all applicable data protection laws and its privacy notice (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/gca-privacy-notice/gca-privacy-notice).