Christine Tacon
Christine Tacon has tough skin. Since becoming the Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA) in January 2013, she’s taken some serious stick from critics about the relevance of her role. Two years in, however, and the industry could finally be set to witness what action the GCA can take.
She regulates the interactions between the 10 largest supermarkets in the UK, with an annual turnover of £1bn, and their direct suppliers.
Earlier this year, she was granted the power to fine retailers 1% of turnover if they were found to be in breach of the Groceries Supply Code of Practice (GSCOP). Tacon launched an investigation into Tesco in February, following evidence about delayed payments.
Her role and the work she’s done, she says, has already had a direct effect on food manufacturers. “I’ve been getting comments from suppliers who are saying things are getting better because of me,” she said.
Last year, Tacon wrote to Food Manufacture readers, asking them to help her by providing evidence of breaches to the GSCOP. This was after Food Manufacture’s annual State-of-the-industry survey echoed some of the issues identified in a YouGov poll conducted to mark the first year of the GCA.