When grocery giants treat farmers and suppliers fairly, it's better for
all Canadians.
Did you know?
- Five grocery giants control 80% of grocery sales in Canada
- Some have used this power to bully and short-change farmers for too long. When farmers, suppliers and smaller grocers cannot compete, they must cut jobs, move operations out of Canada, or even go out of business.
- Costs to get products on store shelves have increased 20+%
- Farmers and suppliers are paying 20+% more than in 2012 just to get their products in Canadian grocery stores, leaving consumers with less choice and putting Canada's supply of food and other essential goods at risk
- More than 80% of new branded products are developed abroad
- The high cost of doing business in Canada, driven partly by unfair retail behaviour, drives innovation elsewhere and costs Canada both investment and job creation opportunities.
FHCP and Empire Company Ltd's Proposed Grocery Code of Conduct
English (Summary)
French (Summary)
FHCP Letters to Government and Retail Leadership
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Michael Graydon Letter to Retail Leadership re: Compliance Fines
June 12, 2020
FCPC Letter to Ministers Bains and Bibeau re: Code of Conduct (French)
August 25, 2020
FCPC Letter to Premiers re: Code of Conduct (French)
August 26, 2020
FHCP Press Releases & Public Statements
FCPC Joins Agricultural Leaders to Denounce Damaging Fees Imposed by Grocery Giants
Published August 6, 2020
Is Canada fully committed to prioritizing food, health, and consumer products as an engine to help power our recovery?
Michael Graydon on LinkedIn
Published October 2, 2020
FHCP Presses B.C. Candidates to Support Fairness and Accountability in Retail Practices
Published October 9, 2020
FHCP CEO to House of Commons: Canada Must Enact Fairness and Accountability In Retail (FAIR) Practice Code
Published November 19, 2020
FHCP Statement on FPT Ministers Commitment to Study Unfair Grocery Practices
Published November 27, 2020
Grocery and manufacturing leaders join forces to promote fairness and transparency in Canadian food retail industry (French)
Published March 25, 2021
The Time For Federal Government Action on a Grocery Code is Now (French)
Published May 4, 2021
Eight Leading Associations Launch Joint Campaign Supporting Legislated Grocery Code of Practice
Published May 25, 2021
Statement re: Canadian Food Industry Collaborative Alliance framework for food industry leaders to develop the Grocery Code of Conduct (French)
Published May 27, 2021
FHCP Open Letter to FPT Working Group Ministerial Co-Chairs (Hill Times) (French)
Published June 23, 2021
FHCP commends FPT Ministers for supporting a Code of Conduct; calls for an independent facilitator for industry-led process (French)
Published July 16, 2021
FHCP in the Media
'Diabolical': Suppliers ‘absolutely furious’ at Walmart Canada plan to recoup investment through new fees
Financial Post
Published July 24, 2020
Other grocers follow Walmart’s lead signaling they may ask for new fees from suppliers
Susan Krashinsky Robertson, Retailing Reporter for The Globe and Mail
Published July 31, 2020
Walmart Canada puts nation’s food supply at risk with new fees
Michael Graydon Op-ed in The Star
Published August 4, 2020
Arbitrary fees imposed by supermarkets: Ottawa's intervention demanded (French only)
Marie-Eve Fournier for La Presse
Published August 6, 2020
Who should pay for the big shift to online grocery shopping? A fierce battle is breaking out and suppliers say consumers could suffer
Rose Saba, Business Reporter for The Star
Published, August 13, 2020
Grocers fight back against calls for a government enforced business code of conduct
Financial Post
Published August 28, 2020
Food fight in Aisle 3: Grocers, suppliers clash over need for code of conduct in Canada
National Post
September 4, 2020
Can Canadian grocers and suppliers reach detente?
Just Food
Published September 24, 2020
B.C. must restore fairness and accountability in retail (FAIR) practice now
Michael Graydon Op-ed in The Province
Published October 19, 2020
Loblaw follows Walmart in imposing new fees on suppliers to help pay for upgrades
Financial Post
Published October 23, 2020
As Loblaw charges suppliers more, worries about food security grow
The Star
Published October 23, 2020
Sobeys executive open to regulation of the grocery industry
The Globe & Mail
Published October 29, 2020
Disfunction in Canadian grocery business "needs attantion," government probe finds
The Financial Post
Published March 5, 2021
Independent grocery stores suffer from practices of large food retailers
National Newswatch
Published March 10, 2021
Sobeys' parent company teams up with manufacturers to draft code of conduct for embattled grocery sector
Financial Post
Published March 25, 2021
Michael Medline: There is room for principle-based dealings in Canadian retail grocery
Financial Post
Published March 25, 2021
Sobeys owner joins food manufacturers urging Ottawa to adopt rules to govern grocers’ dealings with suppliers
Globe & Mail
Published March 25, 2021
Empire, industry group propose grocery code to address ‘unfair practices’ in market
Toronto Star
Published March 25, 2021
Notable Media Coverage
Farmers and food groups call on government to regulate grocer fees
Susan Krashinsky Robertson, Retailing Reporter for The Globe and Mail
Published August 6, 2020
The wrath of Walmart: Will Atlantic Canadians pay when food suppliers are squeezed?
Sylvain Charlebois Op-ed for The Chronicle Herald
Published August 26, 2020
Farmers, food processors and indie retailers team up to ask feds to rein in big grocers
Financial Post
Published August 27, 2020.
Canadian food suppliers push back on grocery giant fees
(video interview with Sylvain Charlebois)
BNN Bloomberg
Managing through Crisis and Building a Winning Culture
Michael Medline & Larysa Harapyn Interview for The Empire Club of Canada
October 28, 2020
Opinion: Canada’s grocery industry needs a code of conduct
Sylvain Charlebois Op-ed for The Globe & Mail
Published October 29, 2020
Grocery giants should stop putting the screws to suppliers and play fair
Editorial by The Star Editorial Board
Published November 2, 2020
Cheese giant enters standoff with Canadian supermarkets over fines as pandemic supply challenges mount
Financial Post
Published November 25, 2020
Canada's Ag ministers to launch probe into grocery store fees on suppliers
Financial Post
Published November 27, 2020
Why do suppliers want a code? (French only)
Marie-Eve Fournier for La Presse
Published February 27, 2021
Ottawa should work with provinces to develop code to regulate grocery industry, Commons committee says
Globe & Mail
Published May 5, 2021
Industry groups propose ‘code of practice’ for grocery industry but oppose legislated regulation
Globe & Mail
Published May 27, 2021
Government to grocery business: It's time to come to a consensus on code of conduct
PostMedia Network
Published on July 15, 2021