The first survey of suppliers since the start of the mandatory Food and Grocery Code of Conduct has been sent out. Photo: Michelle Kroll.
The Federal Government is directly asking suppliers to Australia’s largest supermarket chains to update their experiences dealing with the corporate giants.
It specifically targets interactions between suppliers and Coles, Woolworths, Aldi and wholesaler Metcash.
The Food and Grocery Code Supervisor’s annual survey monitors relationships between suppliers and the large grocery businesses to identify emerging issues and assess compliance with the code.
This year’s survey is the first since the mandatory code came into effect on 1 April 2025.
The code introduced several reforms, including strengthened dispute resolution mechanisms and substantial penalties for breaches by the large supermarkets.
The aim of the new code, which replaced the previous voluntary code, is to protect suppliers and farmers, as well as improve supermarket conduct.
It addresses imbalances in bargaining power between large grocery retailers or wholesalers and their suppliers, and includes new obligations to protect suppliers from retribution.
The government also created an anonymous supplier and whistle-blower complaints pathway through the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).
The current Food and Grocery Code Supervisor’s survey asks suppliers new and targeted questions to support a better understanding of their experiences in the sector.
Questions cover issues such as negotiating prices, participation in promotions, ordering processes, and retribution.
Assistant Minister for Productivity, Competition, Charities and Treasury, Andrew Leigh, said it was important for suppliers to take part in the survey because it helped shape the sector’s future policy and regulation.
“Whether you’re growing apples, harvesting lettuce, packing berries or baking bread, this survey is your voice,” Dr Leigh said.
“It’s a simple way to make sure supermarkets treat suppliers fairly and to help get a better deal for families and farmers.”
Agriculture Minister Julie Collins said the survey was a key part of the government’s commitment to ensuring farmers and suppliers received a fair go in dealing with large grocery businesses.
“Our farmers and producers supply the high-quality food that we all love and rely on, which is why they deserve to be on a level playing field with supermarkets,” she said.
“Our reforms, including making the Food and Grocery Code mandatory, are focused on supermarkets giving farmers a fair go at the farmgate, and families a fair go at the checkout.”
Eligible suppliers should have been invited to take part by code supervisor, Professor Elizabeth Sarofim. De-identified survey results will be published in her annual report.
Results will also be presented on the interactive dashboard on the Food and Grocery Code Supervisor’s website.
The survey is now open and closes on Tuesday, 11 November 2025.
The supervisor reviews how suppliers’ complaints are handled under the code.
The survey helps identify emerging and systemic issues in the grocery supply chain from the previous financial year.
It will also help recognise if any suppliers feared retribution from large grocery businesses and measure suppliers’ experience of large grocery businesses contracting out of certain obligations.
As part of the ongoing education and awareness effort, the survey assesses suppliers’ knowledge of their rights under the code and their willingness and ability to access them.
It also measures how the survey results affect different suppliers depending on the business size and category of goods they supply.
The large grocery businesses are asked to complete a separate survey to support the code supervisor’s understanding of the grocery sector.
The code supervisor replaced the previous independent reviewer when the mandatory code came into effect this year.
Original Article published by Chris Johnson on Region Canberra.
