The Groceries Code Adjudicator is set to lay out new ground rules for supermarkets over negotiations of cost price increases (CPIs) with suppliers, following concerns efforts to pass on rising costs are being stonewalled.
Adjudicator Mark White will tell today’s GCA conference in London that despite publication of his “seven golden rules” in 2022, which laid out a voluntary set of guidelines for supermarkets to follow, there was still too much friction between retailers wanting to keep down prices and suppliers looking to recoup legitimate cost price increases.
There have been persistent calls for the GCA to be given greater powers to enforce issues surrounding CPI requests, with GSCOP currently meaning that he can only advise on issues surrounding price negotiations.
One of the recommendations of former NFU boss Minette Batters’ Farming Profitability Review, published in 2025, was for the current advisory set of principles over CPIs to be given regulatory teeth by the government.
“Since 2022, my seven golden rules have helped ensure prompt responses, no surprises, and no excessive demands for data,” White, whose organisation has subsequently been brought to sit within Defra, will say.
“But I intend that retailer practices improve further, so suppliers know what to expect, and can decide what is right for their businesses.
“I’ve discussed cost price negotiation with retailers recently, and will do so again soon.
“Information from suppliers about poor processes or behaviour will mean I can push hard where improvement is most needed.”
The golden rules set out requirements for supermarkets to have clear communication over the CPI process, to recognise the greater impact on smaller suppliers of CPI issues and for buyers to be fully trained in handling CPI requests.
However, the Adjudicator has previously accused supermarket buyers of “hiding behind their computers” in negotiations and of “stonewalling” rather than negotiating in good faith.
In today’s speech, the Adjudicator also sets out his plans to tackle delays in payment, which was the most reported code issue in the YouGov survey that came out in the summer.
“it’s not acceptable that more suppliers experienced this issue than in 2025,” he will say.
“Where suppliers are telling me there is an issue, I’m working with the retailers to tailor their remediation plans to fix the root causes.”
The issue was at the heart of an investigation launched by the Adjudicator in June last year into the behaviour of online giant Amazon, which was announced after White said he had received evidence from multiple suppliers about the behaviour of the company.
However, the Adjudicator will outline today that the probe was still underway, with Amazon understood to have been strongly disputing the claims against it.
“My investigation into whether Amazon has delayed payments to suppliers is ongoing,” White will explain. “I have received information from both Amazon and suppliers, in writing and in interviews. Given the seriousness and complexity of the subject matter, I am analysing the evidence and will complete the investigation as soon as possible.”
Meanwhile the Adjudicator will set out his concerns today that more than a third of suppliers say they would not come to the GCA even if they experienced an alleged breach of the code by retailers.
”The GCA survey found that six in 10 suppliers would come to me with a concern, which is encouraging,” he will say.
“However, it also means that four in 10 would not. Over the past six years, I have worked to ensure that suppliers can approach me or retailers’ code compliance officers in confidence, knowing that their concerns will be handled confidentially and that we will monitor outcomes to ensure they do not suffer negative consequences for speaking up.”
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