Groceries Code Adjudicator

<h2 id="best-practice-statements">Best practice statements</h2>
Areas covered by best practice statements include <a href="/facts/Forecasting/pwFtGyzM">forecasting</a> and handling consumer <a href="/facts/Consumer_complaint/BmGHwfMF">consumer complaints</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8">8</a> Forecasting was covered by a review of practice and statement in aid of "better working practices" issued in March 2016: the scope of this statement was extended to cover <a href="/facts/Sales_promotion/t8ra4kay">sales promotions</a> when it was reissued in June 2018.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9">9</a>

<h2 id="investigations">Investigations</h2>
Christine Tacon's first investigation, announced on 5 February 2015, looked into the <a href="/facts/Supply_chain/cApUyx1h">supply chain</a> activities of <a href="/facts/Tesco_plc/Xjn7VFmo">Tesco plc</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:10" href="#fn:10">10</a> The investigation found that Tesco had breached the <a href="/facts/Prompt_payment/ryPKnHla">delayed payment</a> provisions of the Code, but in respect of the rule that no payments should be required from suppliers for better positioning of goods unless in relation to promotions, no evidence of a breach was found.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:11" href="#fn:11">11</a>
In her work on the Tesco investigation, Tacon identified problems with "drop and drive deliveries" as one of her "top five issues",<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:12" href="#fn:12">12</a> because they can be a cause of delay in payments to suppliers for goods received. "Drop and drive" disputes involve deductions made in supplier payments because of "alleged discrepancies" in delivered quantities.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:13" href="#fn:13">13</a> As a result, work was undertaken with a group of 20 supermarket suppliers and consultancy firm Simply Supply Chain, which highlighted concerns regarding inaccurate claims being made by the supermarkets. As of February 2015<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Groceries_Code_Adjudicator&action=edit">[update]</a> the GCA withdrew from handling concerns over the drop and drive issue so that an industry-led solution could emerge.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:14" href="#fn:14">14</a> Morrisons and Asda later introduced a "Good Faith Receiving" process, under which they agreed to pay suppliers for all drop and drive deliveries, using spot check audits to ensure accuracy, and the Co-op had agreed to pay all drop and drive delivery invoices in full and settle any disputes later by mutual agreement.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:15" href="#fn:15">15</a>
Tacon's other "top issues" were:

<ul><li>Supermarkets' unilateral deductions for allegedly short deliveries</li>
<li>Duplicate invoicing and unilateral deductions for unknown or unagreed items</li>
<li>Unilateral deductions covering promotion fees, and</li>
<li>Delays in paying entire invoices when only a part of an invoice has been disputed.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:16" href="#fn:16">16</a></li></ul>
<h2 id="appeals">Appeals</h2>
Some decisions by the adjudicator can only be challenged by <a href="/facts/Judicial_review/uYAcGDsm">judicial review</a>, for example a decision to commence an investigation or a ruling that a breach of the Code has occurred. Suppliers and retailers can challenge a decision on costs through an appeal to the courts or via <a href="/facts/Arbitration/LukKEywe">arbitration</a>, or alternatively via <a href="/facts/Commercial_litigation/pLrz18ag">commercial litigation</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:17" href="#fn:17">17</a>

<h2 id="external-links">External links</h2>
<ul><li><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/groceries-code-adjudicator">Groceries Code Adjudicator website</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2013/19">Groceries Code Adjudicator Act 2013</a></li></ul>

<h2 id="references">References</h2>

<ol>
<li id="fn:1">"Christine Tacon named as supermarket ombudsman". BBC News. 21 January 2013. Retrieved 7 August 2023. <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/business-21117701" target="_blank">https://www.bbc.com/news/business-21117701</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:2">"Competition Commission calls for retail ombudsman". The Daily Telegraph. 4 August 2009. Retrieved 20 April 2014. <a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/5973553/Competition-Commission-calls-for-retail-ombudsman.html" target="_blank">https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/5973553/Competition-Commission-calls-for-retail-ombudsman.html</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:3">"Notice of Designation for Amazon.com Incorporated". GOV.UK. Retrieved 7 August 2023. <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/notice-of-designation-for-amazoncom-incorporated" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/notice-of-designation-for-amazoncom-incorporated</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:4">Faithfull, Mark (5 June 2009). "Waitrose gives last-minute show of support for retail ombudsman". Retail Week. Emap International Limited. Retrieved 20 April 2014. <a href="http://www.retail-week.com/sectors/food/waitrose-gives-last-minute-show-of-support-for-retail-ombudsman/5003290.article" target="_blank">http://www.retail-week.com/sectors/food/waitrose-gives-last-minute-show-of-support-for-retail-ombudsman/5003290.article</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:5">"Christine Tacon CBE". GOV.UK. Retrieved 7 August 2023. <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/people/christine-tacon" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/people/christine-tacon</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:6">Groceries Code Adjudicator, GCA responds to reappointment, published on 24 May 2024, accessed on 26 June 2024 <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/gca-responds-to-reappointment" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/news/gca-responds-to-reappointment</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:7">"GCA policy: Interpretative guidance, best practice statements and retailer voluntary commitments" (PDF). GOV.UK. March 2016. Retrieved 7 August 2023. <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/510114/GCA_policy__Interpretive_guidance__best_practice_and_voluntary_agreements_March_2016.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/510114/GCA_policy__Interpretive_guidance__best_practice_and_voluntary_agreements_March_2016.pdf</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:8">Groceries Code Adjudicator, GCA Consumer complaints best practice statement, published on 13 December 2016, accessed on 6 November 2024 <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/gca-consumer-complaints-best-practice-statement/gca-best-practice-statement-consumer-complaints" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/gca-consumer-complaints-best-practice-statement/gca-best-practice-statement-consumer-complaints</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:9">Groceries Code Adjudicator, Best practice statement: Forecasting and promotions, published on 25 June 2018, accessed on 6 November 2024 <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/gca-forecasting-and-promotions-best-practice-statement/gca-best-practice-statementforecasting-and-promotions-including-taking-due-care-when-ordering-for-promotions#gca-statement-of-best-practice-forecasting-and-promotions-including-taking-due-care-when-ordering-for-promotions" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/gca-forecasting-and-promotions-best-practice-statement/gca-best-practice-statementforecasting-and-promotions-including-taking-due-care-when-ordering-for-promotions#gca-statement-of-best-practice-forecasting-and-promotions-including-taking-due-care-when-ordering-for-promotions</a> <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:10">"Tesco knowingly delayed payments to suppliers". BBC News. 26 January 2016. Retrieved 7 August 2023. <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/business-35408064" target="_blank">https://www.bbc.com/news/business-35408064</a> <a href="#fnref:10" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:11">Groceries Code Adjudicator, GCA Investigation into Tesco plc, published 26 January 2016, accessed 23 May 2024 <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/gca-investigation-into-tesco-plc" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/gca-investigation-into-tesco-plc</a> <a href="#fnref:11" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:12">Groceries Code Adjudicator, Top 5 issues, published in June 2016, accessed on 21 March 2025 <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a816bc3e5274a2e8ab53e58/GCA_Top_5_web.pdf" target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a816bc3e5274a2e8ab53e58/GCA_Top_5_web.pdf</a> <a href="#fnref:12" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:13">Quinn, I., GCA calls off 'drop and drive' investigation threat, The Grocer, published on 31 August 2017, accessed on 26 June 2024 <a href="https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/supermarkets/gca-calls-off-drop-and-drive-investigation-threat/557057.article" target="_blank">https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/supermarkets/gca-calls-off-drop-and-drive-investigation-threat/557057.article</a> <a href="#fnref:13" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:14">Groceries Code Adjudicator, Making Progress on Delays in Payment resulting from Drop and Drive, published on 5 February 2015, accessed on 26 June 2024 <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a808af7ed915d74e622f0f8/Drop_and_drive_text.pdf" target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a808af7ed915d74e622f0f8/Drop_and_drive_text.pdf</a> <a href="#fnref:14" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:15">Quinn, I., GCA calls off 'drop and drive' investigation threat, The Grocer, published on 31 August 2017, accessed on 26 June 2024 <a href="https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/supermarkets/gca-calls-off-drop-and-drive-investigation-threat/557057.article" target="_blank">https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/supermarkets/gca-calls-off-drop-and-drive-investigation-threat/557057.article</a> <a href="#fnref:15" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:16">Groceries Code Adjudicator, Top 5 issues, published in June 2016, accessed on 21 March 2025 <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a816bc3e5274a2e8ab53e58/GCA_Top_5_web.pdf" target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a816bc3e5274a2e8ab53e58/GCA_Top_5_web.pdf</a> <a href="#fnref:16" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:17">Groceries Code Adjudicator, GCA Guidance on appeals, published on 22 July 2014, accessed on 10 October 2024 <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a748233ed915d0e8e398c3a/GCA_guidance_on_appeals_July_2014.pdf" target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a748233ed915d0e8e398c3a/GCA_guidance_on_appeals_July_2014.pdf</a> <a href="#fnref:17" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
</ol>

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Groceries Code Adjudicator