CLA lobbying leads to supermarkets watchdog (From Gazette & Herald)

CLA lobbying leads to supermarkets watchdog

1:11pm Thursday 28th January 2010

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A PLAN by Consumer Minister Kevin Brennan to introduce a new “groceries ombudsman” to enforce rules protecting smaller suppliers has been welcomed by the Easingwold-based Country Land and Business Association (CLA).

The organisation, which has 36,000 members, describes the decision to tighten up the Groceries Supply Code of Practice as “long overdue”.

CLA president and North Yorkshire landowner William Worsley said: “Creating an ombudsman to protect producers and suppliers from restrictive practices by large retailers has long been a major priority in the CLA’s Food Chain Initiative. This success is a direct result of our lobbying on this issue.

“Large retailers can impose unrealistic conditions on their smaller suppliers.

“These suppliers are expected to carry a disproportionate share of the risks and costs, and many have found dealing with supermarkets particularly intimidating.”

But he warned that this was only the beginning.

“It is its implementation that will make the real difference. This watchdog must have teeth, but it must also be willing to use them and be allowed to do so,” Mr Worsley said.

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