The Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA) has published its 46th newsletter, describing progress meetings with each designated retailer's Code Compliance Officer during what it calls the Golden Quarter for the groceries sector. The regulator said retailers' focus on consumers in this period must not lead to any increase in unfair treatment of suppliers.

In its October meetings, the GCA said it checked retailers' progress against previously agreed actions, their handling of changes that could pose compliance risks, and their management of cost price increase requests, including response times and buyer training. It cited one retailer refreshing internal Code training with case studies in response to de-listing issues. The GCA said supplier identities are protected by law and that it follows up on retailer actions at later meetings.

The 2027 annual survey is scheduled to launch on 11 January and remain open until 21 February, inviting suppliers to share confidential experiences of working with the 14 retailers over the past year. The GCA said the findings will inform its priorities and that it will act on them.