The government announced at the end of last week that Mark White will continue as the Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA) for a further three years when his current term ends on 30 October.
The GCA is responsible for regulating the relationships between the UK’s largest grocery retailers and their direct suppliers by enforcing compliance with the Groceries Supply Code of Practice (GSCOP). White took over GCA role on 31 October 2020.
Commenting on his reappointment, he said: “I am delighted to have been reappointed as the Groceries Code Adjudicator.
“The groceries sector has overcome many challenges since my initial appointment in October 2020. The large retailers and their suppliers have responded to the Covid-19 pandemic, to shortages of labour and raw materials and to increases in input costs.
“I’m pleased with the positive difference the GCA has made to the treatment of direct suppliers despite these challenges. My annual survey has shown over 90% of direct suppliers to most retailers believe that the retailers consistently or mostly comply with the Code. The proportion of suppliers reporting a Code-related issue has dropped dramatically from 79% in 2014, shortly after the GCA was established, to 36% in 2023.”
