Sainsbury's Hits Out At Unnecessary Ombudsman

Fri, 02 May 2008

Sainsbury’s has responded to the news of the creation of an ombudsman to regulate relationships between supermarkets and suppliers by saying it is an "unnecessary measure".

Following yesterday’s release of the Competition Commission’s final report of its two-year inquiry into the UK grocery sector Sainsburys said supermarket supplier issues should instead be addressed through the proposed changes to the existing code of practice .

The supermarket chain welcomed the proposals for a strengthened code and also gave its full support over the new rules for retailers’ planning applications.

"Sainsbury's has argued for this for new stores throughout the inquiry, to protect local markets from exploitation in the future," a spokesperson said.

"We will now be examining the report in full detail and will continue to play a full part in discussions with the Competition Commisson and other parties, to ensure that remedies are implemented in the most effective and efficient way to improve choice for consumers across the UK."