Upcoming Webinar: FAIR: Fairness and Accountability in Retail Practices

Michael Graydon, Chief Executive Officer, Food, Health & Consumer Products of Canada (FHCP)

Date: January 28, 2021 at 12 pm

Title: FAIR:  Fairness and Accountability in Retail Practices,

Michael Graydon, Chief Executive Officer, Food, Health & Consumer Products of Canada (FHCP)

To Register:

https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJwrd-uspz8jGNYX4fZCcC-yuhSN_gKBgWEq

Biography: Michael Graydon is Chief Executive Officer of Food, Health & Consumer Products of Canada (FHCP) the national association voice of Canada’s food, health and consumer products sector. A seasoned business executive, Michael has nearly 20 years of visionary CEO leadership across multiple industries, driving proactive and collaborative stakeholder engagement and consistent corporate results. Since joining FHCP (then FCPC) in 2016, his leadership has dramatically repositioned the organization into a driving force on industry issues as diverse as Canada’s Healthy Eating Strategy, free trade and tariff issues, environmental sustainability, product labelling and the changing dynamics of the supplier/retailer relationship. 

Presentation Details:

The consolidation of the grocery retail sector in Canada has resulted in just five grocery retailers controlling over 80% of what consumers purchase in Canada.  The resulting power imbalance has long allowed large grocery retailers to arbitrarily shift their costs and risks disproportionately onto food manufacturers and farmers. These unfair and unethical business practices are not seen or accepted in any other sector and have remained unchecked due to their power over suppliers.

When farmers and manufacturers are forced to pay retail giants’ bills, they struggle to pay their own and must cut back on innovating new products, investing in new facilities, and creating new jobs.  “Made in Canada” food becomes more expensive, and our food system weakens.  Consumers have fewer, more expensive choices and workers lose jobs, and opportunities. 

Unfair practices by grocery giants threatens Canada’s food production and supply chains, hurts farmers and consumers, and jeopardizes Canadian growth, jobs and COVID-19 recovery.  Correcting this current business environment is imperative.

Proven model such as the UK’s Grocery Supply Code of Practice with a dedicated enforcement agency has shown significant success in restoring balance and fairness to the relationship between grocery retailers and their suppliers. 

Food manufacturers, farmers, suppliers and some retailers are calling for a UK-style code of conduct in Canada to address these unfair and unethical practices.

This live presentation will not be posted at a later date-so don’t miss it! Information supporting this presentation will be posted on the OFVC.ca website at a later date.