Nine Highlights from the GSCOP Annual Conference 2019
Today was the Annual Groceries Supply Chain Practice Conference by the Groceries Code Adjudicator. Also known as the ‘GSCOP Annual Conference’. Christine Tacon’s final year. In her final-year, Christine is committed to working with each of the 12 large retailers. She continues to ensure that their practices, systems, and behaviours meet the obligations under the law. Christine believes that this is the best way to avoid breaches.
We have rounded up nine of the key highlights to take away from the GSCOP Annual Conference, below:
#1 The Supermarket Compliance Battle
Aldi won the supermarket compliance battle for 2019 and B&M were the worst. Morrisons, Lidl and Iceland went backwards a little, becoming less compliant. Asda improved by 8ppts.
Overall assessment of compliance with the Code
#2 Forensic Auditing Concerns Reduce
In 2014 the main concern was ‘Forensic Auditing’ with 45% of suppliers reporting a concern. It is now only 7% in 2019.
Forensic Auditing
#3 Recent Investigations and Case Studies
In the last 12 months, Tesco and Co-op were investigated. Plus case studies produced by the GCA now total 5. You can read about those case studies.
Change in retailer practice over the past 12 months.
#4 Progress on Top Issues
There are 9 Top Issues from Suppliers and all made progress. Of most concern was Forensic Auditing, Consumer Complaints, and then Margin Maintenance, respectively.
Progress on Top Issues since 2014
#5 Key Trends
The most significant trend highlighted at the GSCOP annual conference was a reduction from 79% to 41% in ‘Experienced an issue’.
Selected key trends 2014 to 2019
#6 Supply Agreements Still Lagging
Half of all suppliers still do not have a written supply agreement. Do you know what should be included?
Have a written supply agreement with these retailers?
#7 GSCOP Supplier Training Still Low
Still only half of all suppliers have received training on the code.
Have you received any training on the Code?
#8 Recommendations From the Co-op Investigation
The investigation into Co-op led to these recommendations by the Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA), Christine Tacon.
Recommendations made to co-op
#9 New Graphics
The new logo launched at the GSCOP annual conference by the GCA to support Code awareness:
Code Confident: Know the Code, Get Trained, Speak Up.
Presentations from the GSCOP Annual Conference
The slides above can also be seen with many other slides from the presentations that were delivered today at the GCA conference. There were 4 presentations at the Groceries Supply Code of Practice Annual Conference. You can download them below. The links for the slides follow the presentation videos:
Christine Tacon: Driving effective compliance risk management – Annual Review 2018/19:
Driving Effective Compliance Risk Management – 14 slides.
Gavin Ellison (YouGov): GCA Annual Survey 2019:
YouGov GCA Annual Survey 2019 – 23 slides.
Christine Tacon: Driving effective compliance risk management:
Driving Effective Compliance Risk Management – 25 slides.
Michael Hutchings: The Supply Chain Initiative – Tackling unfair trading practices in the EU:
Tackling Unfair Trading Practices in the EU – 13 slides.
You can also find these presentations and Christine’s words on the .gov.uk webpage.
GSCOP Training
If you are feeling exposed because you do not have a written supply agreement, check out our GSCOP training course. Also, take a look at our GSCOP book to ensure you are GSCOP compliant.
For further tips and information, you can take a look at our Ultimate Guide to GSCOP and our GSCOP YouTube Channel. Also, check out our award-winning blog to see more tips and articles.
