CEO's Blog 4th February 2010

Supermarket code strengthened - but now give us our ombudsman

A campaign which has felt a bit like a marathon at times, has been paying off.  Since 2004, NFUS has leading the campaign for a tougher supermarket code of practice and an independent ombudsman to police that code.

Part one is now secured and the strengthened code came into effect this morning.  However, it is but a first, small step and the second element of our campaign - the ombudsman - is the most important.

We have had some form of code for 7 years, but it gathers dust because nothing happens unless a supplier makes a complaint (and only a couple have had the courage to do so since 2003).  The same will be true I fear of the new code until there is a policeman willing to go into the marketplace and ensure it is adhered to.

The good news on the ombudsan is that after much lobbying effort, the three major parties at Westminster have all agreed to support it.  To be honest, the Liberal Democrats have been long-term supporters and advocates for it.  The Conservatives have announced their pre-election support and - eventually - the Labour UK Government has announced its support.  Albeit, the latter's support was tarnished by a desire to consult yet further on the details and therefore very firmly park until after the May general election (which will be on 6 May if the bookies are to be believed - and at least one government stakeholder meeting I was due to be at on that day has been cancelled because of the likely polling date).

But let's not be in any way downbeat.  An ombudsman is coming, later than we'd hoped but it is coming.

And for all those who told us back in 2004 that we were crazy to take on the big supermarkets, our biggest customers and we couldn't possibly beat them........well, sometimes David can beat Goliath. 

Although I won't count all our chickens until we see the ombudsman in the flesh.