General Information

The Groceries Supply Code of Practice (the Code) came into force on 4 February 2010. It applies to all Grocery Retailers with grocery sales over £1 billion and requires them to submit an annual report on compliance with the requirements of the Code to the Competition and Markets Authority and Mark White, the Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA).

Our last annual report was submitted in April 2024 covering the period 1 January 2023 to 31 December 2023.

Code-related Developments During 2023

The GCA commissions a supplier survey assessing retailers’ compliance with GSCOP on an annual basis. In the 2023 survey, 95% of Aldi’s suppliers assessed that Aldi complied with the Code consistently or mostly well. Aldi was again identified as the grocery retailer most likely to treat its suppliers fairly, in good faith and without duress.

2023 saw a continuing trend of an exceptionally challenging retail trading environment for all market participants. Inflation, energy costs and challenges in the global supply chain continued to be issues. In such difficult times, our strong partnership with our suppliers, underpinned by the commitments embedded in the Code, has enabled us to continue to work effectively to provide quality and value to our customers.

We aim to deliver our Code commitments consistently and effectively, improving what we do and how we do it. During 2023, we have:

• Refreshed our GSCOP training
• Trained 1527 colleagues using these materials
• Under took our own supplier survey using the feedback received to help develop how we operate
• Used our GSCOP supplier newsletter to highlight developments with the Code, the work of the GCA and the importance of suppliers’ understanding the protections the Code provides them
• Continued regular meetings, dialogue and collaborative working with the GCA

Supplier Disputes

Aldi fully supports the requirements of the Code which are aligned with Aldi’s core values of Simplicity, Consistency and Responsibility. We pride ourselves on building long-term and mutually beneficial relationships with our suppliers, and compliance with the Code firmly underpins this.

However, disputes can occur from time to time in any commercial relationship. Where these occur, we would encourage suppliers to discuss any issues directly with their Buying Team in the first instance, so we have an opportunity to resolve them as quickly as possible. Where an issue can’t be resolved, suppliers have the right to contact the Aldi Code Compliance Officer (CCO) on any Code-related issue, raising a formal dispute under the Code if they so choose. Having carefully considered the circumstances, we will always seek to agree fair and reasonable resolutions to issues that our suppliers have raised with us.

One new legal dispute was raised in which a supplier alleged a potential breach of the Code during 2023 which remained open at the end of the year. One further issue raised during the previous reporting period in November 2022 was resolved to the supplier’s satisfaction in November 2023.

Aldi Code Compliance Officer Details

Most Code matters can be effectively dealt with by contacting the relevant buying team. However, if you are an Aldi supplier and have a Code-related issue or query, please feel free to contact Alex Wood, Aldi’s Code Compliance Officer using the details below. Any discussions with her will be held in the strictest of confidence, and no details will be disclosed to any other Aldi employee unless your explicit consent has been obtained first.

Aldi, alongside all of the retailers subject to the Code, has made the commitment to ensure that suppliers do not face negative consequences as a result of raising issues with our buying teams directly or with our CCO.

Email Address: -  CCO@aldi.co.uk

Telephone Number: -  +44 (0)1827 710859

Groceries Code Adjudicator Details

The GCA has created a Code Confident pack that contains useful information on the Code, including a copy of the Code itself, answers to questions the GCA frequently receives, as well as a directory of providers who offer Code training. The pack also provides details of how you can contact Mark and his team.

Suppliers can also now use a confidential platform to report to the GCA any behaviour by a designated retailer they believe to be in breach of the Code. Reports using the platform can be made completely anonymously. Simply visit:  www.telltheGCA.co.uk.