The Grocery Suppliers Code of Practice, which becomes law tomorrow will provide clear guidelines to retailers for their dealings with suppliers and contains an over-riding principle of fair dealing. The NFU feels that this recent behaviour has shown that the start of a code strengthened by an independent ombudsman can't come soon enough. A consultation on the ombudsman role begins on Friday.

"Recent reports to me about retailer behaviour in the supply chain have demonstrated nothing but bully-boy tactics. This week should have been marked by a sea change in grocery supply chain relationships with our farmer and grower members but instead in the past 10 days I have heard how suppliers to major retailers have faced some of the most unreasonable demands for retrospective payments and changes to trading terms that we've ever seen. Retailers are effectively launching pre-emptive strikes on suppliers before the new Grocery Suppliers Code of Practice - and the protection it affords - comes into force. These practices need to stop today - not after the Code's implementation." NFU President Peter Kendall.

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