GCA wants to hear from dairies in annual survey

25-Jan-2021 - Last updated on 25-Jan-2021 at 12:00 GMT

This year's GCA survey closes on February 21. Pic: Getty Images/AndreyPopov

The UK’s Grocery Code Adjudicator (GCA), Mark White, has launched the annual survey on how the sector is operating in such challenging times.

The survey is an opportunity for dairy suppliers to the UK’s largest supermarkets to tell the GCA about any Code issues they are facing and whether the regulated retailers are treating them fairly and lawfully. For the first time, the survey will also ask suppliers to provide positive feedback to their retailers as well as saying what has not worked so well.

This will be the eighth year the survey has been conducted and, as in previous years, it is being carried out by the independent polling company YouGov. From the beginning, the GCA said the survey has played an important role in helping to achieve progress for suppliers, demonstrating where retailers’ efforts have improved Code compliance and identifying areas for them to make improvements.

White said, “This survey will be immensely valuable in helping me identify the issues the groceries sector is facing as well as guiding my future work. What suppliers can tell me is particularly important as this is my first year as GCA and the sector is still working under the challenges of Covid and Brexit so I am asking them to be as frank as possible. Their answers can help their businesses.

“I have decided to include two innovations this year. First, I would like to hear from suppliers who think the retailers are doing a good job so I can highlight success and share good practice.

“Second, after the main survey has closed I will be asking YouGov to carry out some detailed interviews with suppliers on particular issues arising from the findings. For example, in the last survey just over a third of respondents still reported Code-related issues even though the results showed progress across many areas. I would like to understand more clearly why this is the case.

“If you supply one of the regulated retailers and are interested in taking part in these interviews please provide contact details at the end of the survey. As with survey responses any information gathered from follow-up interviews will be treated with complete confidence.”

The survey closes on February 21, and the GCA will publish the results later in the spring/summer on its website.