There were fewer code issues and improved treatment of grocery suppliers by retailers, for the second year running, the 12th Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA) survey has revealed.
The survey, which covers grocery suppliers to the 14 designated large retailers, found that the number of suppliers reporting that they faced a Code issue fell from 33% in 2024 to 30% in 2025.
Waitrose had the highest perceived Code compliance at 98%.
The survey also showed an improvement in Code compliance across the retailers.
Average perceived Code compliance rose from 91% in 2024 to 93% in 2025. According to GCA this was largely driven by improvements at the five retailers with the lowest perceived Code compliance in 2024.
There was improved performance against issues prioritised by the GCA. This included the 17% of suppliers that said they had experienced inadequate processes and procedures to enable invoice discrepancies to be resolved promptly, compared to 21% of suppliers in 2024.
On the delays in payments - 11% highlighted delays in payments this year, compared to 14% of suppliers in 2024.
Overall compliance scores across the retailers ranged from 98% to 66%, with an average compliance across all 14 retailers of 93% compared to 91% in 2024.
Perceptions of 8 retailers’ Code compliance improved by a percentage or more (when rounded to whole percentages), including the five retailers with the lowest perceived compliance in 2024.
Waitrose had the highest perceived Code compliance at 98%.
Mark White, the Adjudicator, said: “I’m pleased that average Code compliance has continued to improve across the sector and it’s particularly encouraging that the lowest five performing retailers have improved perceptions of their overall compliance with the Groceries Code.”
He added: “I will speak to each retailer about suppliers’ views, and I expect them to review their individual survey results and make changes in response to issues impacting suppliers. When I raise issues with retailers, I do so in a way that protects suppliers’ confidentiality and not reveal which suppliers I’ve spoken to or even what products they supply.”
The 2025 annual survey was run by YouGov on behalf of the GCA and was open from 13 January until 23 February. The survey received 2584 responses in total including 2384 responses from direct suppliers.
The news comes as last week the GCA launched a targeted investigation into whether Amazon.com, Inc has breached the Groceries Code.
