Almost a month after the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) designated Amazon under the Groceries Market Investigation Order, the online giant must now follow the Groceries Supply Code of Practice (GSCOP).
As of 1 March, Amazon became the 14th retailer to be bound by the Code which regulates how all designated retailers manage their relationships with suppliers to ensure they are treating them fairly and lawfully. It applies to retailers that have an annual turnover of more than £1bn from grocery sales, with Amazon’s drive into the sector in recent years resulting in its inclusion.
Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA), Mark White, said he will be working with Amazon’s Code Compliance Officer (CCO) to help the organisation transition to complying with the Code.
He is also inviting suppliers to make contact if they have any concerns about how they are being treated by Amazon. White stressed that all information received is dealt with on a confidential basis and the GCA has a legal duty to preserve anonymity.
Suppliers can also speak to Amazon’s CCO, Alex Simpson. CCOs work independently from the rest of their organisations and can discuss any issue which relates to the retailer’s obligations under the Code. CCOs (including Simpson) have committed to treat in confidence any information suppliers provide unless they agree that details can be disclosed to the rest of the organisation.
White commented: “Now that Amazon is covered by the Code, I am looking forward to working with their CCO to ensure that they are complying with the Code and treating their suppliers lawfully and fairly.
“As the groceries industry faces a range of challenges, my message to Amazon groceries’ suppliers is to get in touch if you have any Code-related issues. Your feedback is vital for informing my discussions with Amazon.”
NAM Implications:
- Mark White needs evidence…
- …and since its inception, the GSCOP office has demonstrated that confidentiality is a given.
- Your call, folks!
