Friday, February 15, 2008

Supermaket report - a modest step towards fairness for consumers and farmers

For years, one of my hobby-horses has been the domination of the big UK supermarket companies. I remember reading Sunday Times reports during the 1980s which said that our food prices were about 20% higher than in the States and about 10% higher than on the continent - mainly because of the domination of the market by a few rich companies.

The controversy has dragged on for a long time but at last the Competition Commission has issued some draft recommendations which at last look like levelling the playing field for consumers and suppliers, at least to a some extent. The plans include:

-A tougher supermarket code of practice
-Supermarkets to employ enforcement officers to ensure the code is implemented
-An ombudsman to ensure fair play
-Changes in the planning law to give shoppers a wider choice in their area (Wot? More supermarkets?)
-Measures to stop retailers imposing restrictions on who can build on land they sell off
-A five year time limit on agreements between supermarkets and local authorities which prevent rivals coming into the locality

And, an essential one for farmers, measures to prevent supermarkets lowering their price agreements once they have agreed a contract.

There's nothing draconian in here. Most of it is long overdue. But we've gone a little step today towards fairness for farmers, suppliers and consumers.

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