Below is a list of recent news and media coverage. For older items, see News archive.
Christine Tacon on how she’s rebuilding trust via Red Tractor
The Grocer – 29th July 2022
More and more Brits don’t trust the food they eat. Why? The Red Tractor chair talks through some of the reasons, plus farmer frustrations and the pros and cons of media exposés
Do you trust your food?
Could the Competition & Markets Authority seriously do the job of policing the GSCOP?
The Grocer – 19th July 2022
Critics say the GCA has over-stepped its remit and made itself vulnerable, but supporters warn handing its job to the CMA would be disastrous
Small business minister Jane Hunt had been in the job for just two weeks when The Grocer revealed she was to consider scrapping the Groceries Code Adjudicator role in a drive to increase efficiency and ministerial accountability.
Trust in supermarket food down as consumers link cheaper choices with lower quality, survey finds
The Grocer – 20th July 2022
Consumers are losing trust in supermarket food as they assume swapping to cheaper ranges means compromising on quality and food safety, new research suggests.
A YouGov survey of 3,500 UK adults commissioned by Red Tractor found 46% were changing what they bought to keep their families fed during the cost of living crisis.…
Tacon announces Co-op Member Nominated Director candidacy
I am standing as a Member Nominated Director for the Co-op at their AGM held on Saturday 21st May 2022. I have been asked to produce a brief candidate address, a 500-word statement and a 2-minute video. These can be view below, as well as on the Co-op website.…
Ex-military workers encouraged to join food supply chain by £450k grant
The Grocer – 21st February 2022
Food sector learning provider MDS has received a £450,000 grant to create a training programme for non-graduates and triple the number of its secondments in the food industry.
The campaign will focus on recruiting ex-military personnel and career changers to upskill the fresh produce sector.…
NFU Scotland AGM 2022: Sustainability increasingly important for farm assurance
The Press and Journal – 11th February 2022
Sustainability will become an increasingly important component of farm assurance going forward, claim the leaders of three industry assurance bodies.
Speaking at the NFU Scotland virtual annual general meeting and conference, the chairs of Quality Meat Scotland (QMS), Red Tractor and Scottish Quality Crops (SQC) said farm produce buyers were increasingly asking for assurances about the sustainability of food produced on British farms.…
CAPI Releases Report on Supply Chain Efficiencies
Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute (CAPI) – 27th January 2022
The Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute (CAPI) announces the release of its latest Perspective Report, delivering critical insights on supply-chain efficiencies and competitiveness from UK Groceries Code Adjudicator Christine Tacon.
A healthy supply chain, where food can flow efficiently from farmers and processors, through retailers to consumers, is critical for Canada and Canadians,” says Tyler McCann, Managing Director of CAPI.…
Women In Food & Farming – November Broadcast
Guest Speaker Jan England of England Marketing
“Women in Food and Farming” is a group of professional women in food, agriculture, and the land-based industries at all stages of their careers, who get together to discuss business issues, support each other via mentorship and advice, and help generate networks of contacts that might be useful to themselves and their businesses.…
Women In Food & Farming – October Broadcast
Guest Speaker Judith Batchelar OBE. Special Advisor CR&S and Public Affairs Sainsbury’s.
“Women in Food and Farming” is a group of professional women in food, agriculture, and the land-based industries at all stages of their careers, who get together to discuss business issues, support each other via mentorship and advice, and help generate networks of contacts that might be useful to themselves and their businesses.…
Women In Food & Farming – September Broadcast
What Have We Learned In Our Ways Of Working From The COVID Pandemic…?
A quick insight from some of the Group Founders as to what they have found and differing ways of working from over the last 18mths.
“Women in Food and Farming” is a group of professional women in food, agriculture, and the land-based industries at all stages of their careers, who get together to discuss business issues, support each other via mentorship and advice, and help generate networks of contacts that might be useful to themselves and their businesses.…
Canada food retail body issues own call for grocery code of conduct
Just Food – 28th May 2021
Canada’s largest retail trade body has joined calls for a grocery code of conduct – although its demands have sparked concerns at one leading manufacturers’ association.
The Retail Council of Canada, which represents Canada’s largest food retailers, yesterday (27 May) announced it wants a “food industry code of practice” and unveiled a new “alliance” of supplier and retail organisations that would look to devise the new system.…
Red Tractor leader to discuss food and farming challenges
Eastern Daily Press – 9th April 2021
The Norfolk-born businesswoman who now leads the nation’s largest farm assurance scheme will discuss the future challenges facing the food industry during an online event.
Christine Tacon, newly-appointed chairman of the Red Tractor farm and food assurance scheme, will speak at an online event on Tuesday, part of series of lectures and debates to celebrate the 175th anniversary of the Royal Agricultural University (RAU).…
Women In Food & Farming – March Broadcast
Views on the Biggest Challenges Facing Agriculture in the next 10 years
“Women in Food and Farming” is a group of professional women in food, agriculture, and the land-based industries at all stages of their careers, who get together to discuss business issues, support each other via mentorship and advice, and help generate networks of contacts that might be useful to themselves and their businesses.…
Aldi to fund 60 fresh produce management trainees
The Grocer – 10th March 2021
Aldi is to fund 60 management apprenticeships in the fresh produce industry over two years to help nurture talent in the sector.
The move is in partnership with fresh produce management training scheme MDS, chaired by former GCA Christine Tacon.…
Women In Food & Farming – Unofficial World Record
Brexit opportunity prompts MDS investment
Fresh Produce Journal – 26th January 2021
More young people are looking to pursue career in food, reports grad training organisation, with Brexit expected to boost efforts to nurture homegrown talent
Agrifood graduate training organisation MDS has reported “unprecedented” demand from graduates as well as new member companies over the past 12 months.
Its chair, the former groceries Code Adjudicator Christine Tacon, said she expects to see no levelling off in interest from companies looking to invest in developing graduate talent, nor in young people seeking a long-term future in the sector.…
Tacon appointed chair of Red Tractor Assurance
The Grocer – 21st December 2020
Former Groceries Code Adjudicator Christine Tacon has been appointed chair of the Red Tractor Assurance scheme.
Tacon, who stood down from her GCA role in October after more than seven years at the helm, replaces Lucy Neville-Rolfe, whose three-year term ended in November.…
BBC Farming Today Red Tractor Interview
Farming Today – 18th December 2020
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Tacon named new chairman of Red Tractor scheme
Farmers Weekly – 18th December 2020
Former groceries code adjudicator Christine Tacon has been appointed as the new head of Red Tractor.
Ms Tacon has been named as the chairman of Assured Food Standards (ASF), the company that operates the Red Tractor Assurance scheme.
She will take up the role on 1 January 2021, replacing Dame Lucy Neville-Rolfe, whose term ended last month.…
The UK’s first Groceries Code Adjudicator is appointed chair of Red Tractor Assurance
Christine Tacon CBE has been appointed Chair of Assured Food Standards who operate the Red Tractor Assurance scheme.
The former Groceries Code Adjudicator takes up the role on the 1st January 2021, replacing Dame Lucy Neville-Rolfe, whose term ended last month.…
2020: a year of great progress for the Drop and Drive Claims Workgroup
Simply Supply Chain Blog – 27th October 2020
Despite the considerable impacts on the grocery supply chain this year, the Drop and Drive Claims Workgroup has continued to make great progress during 2020 and we were able to celebrate some incredible results at the final review of the year last week.…
Tacon enters final week as GCA
Fresh Produce Journal – 28th October 2020
Groceries Code Adjudicator Christine Tacon has announced she will step down from the role at the end of this week, handing over to successor Mark White.
Tacon, who was the inaugural adjudicator, setting up the organisation seven years ago and establishing it as the arbiter of supermarket-supplier relations, was due to step down earlier this year but agreed to stay on to oversee issues arising out of the Covid pandemic.
However as no specific Covid-related issues have been reported, she said it was now the right time to step aside.
“As it is now over six months since supply arrangements had to be reviewed and revised to ensure essential groceries reached the supermarket shelves at the onset of the lockdown I would not expect any supplier now to raise an issue based on those actions.
Christine Tacon marks final week in role as GCA
26th October 2020 – GOV.UK
Christine Tacon, the UK’s first Groceries Code Adjudicator, has announced she will step down from the role at the end of this week, handing over to her successor Mark White.
She said:
…I agreed to stay on beyond the end of my second term to oversee any COVID-related issues that may have arisen in the early days and weeks of the pandemic.
Christine Tacon fires parting shot over second wave supermarket delistings
The Grocer – 23rd October 2020
Groceries Code Adjudicator Christine Tacon has fired a warning shot to retailers facing a new demand spike because of further lockdown measures, saying that what was acceptable delisting behaviour in March would not wash with the watchdog in the second wave.…
MDS and Redfox in graduate push
Fresh Produce Journal – 17th September 2020
Redfox and Management Development Services (MDS) have announced a new initiative to help MDS graduates secure roles with horticultural businesses.
MDS is the leading training provider in the fresh produce sector, and has expanded steadily as companies seek to safeguard their future by attracting and providing training for the highest-calibre recruits.…
FPJ Stories: Christine Tacon
27th August 2020
In Episode Two, Michael talks to outgoing Groceries Code Adjudicator Christine Tacon about her years transforming relations between suppliers and supermarkets, her views on the future of the food industry and what more can be done to help the next generation of fresh produce professionals realise their dreams.…
Why the new Groceries Code Adjudicator might be just what the industry needs
The Grocer – 21st July 2020
So the government has turned to Mr White to try to ensure a level playing field between suppliers and the supermarkets, with the belated appointment of a new Groceries Code Adjudicator.
Alas, Boris hasn’t seconded Harvey Keitel from his Direct Line ads to bang a few heads together, much as he would have been perfect for the job in many ways.…
GCA still needed to maintain retailer compliance
Food Manufacturer – 17th July 2020
The Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA) is still required to ensure retailers comply with the Groceries Supply Code of Practice (the Code), according to a Government review.
The review covered the period from 1 April 2016 to 31 March 2019 and assessed the GCA’s performance based on evidence from a number of stakeholders.
IN a foreword to the review, parliamentary under-secretary of state for small business, consumers and labour markets Paul Scully said, “The Government agrees with the overall evidence provided in response to the Review that there is still a need for the GCA to ensure Code compliance and encourage best practice.…
Groceries Code Adjudicator still needed and ‘highly effective’, says review
The Grocer – 16 July 2020
The Groceries Code Adjudicator is still needed to ensure retailer compliance with Groceries Supply Code of Practice, the government’s latest review of the body has concluded.
The GCA will therefore be maintained with funding to continue policing the code, according to the statutory review, which assesses the ongoing need for the role every three years.…
GCA welcomes findings of second statutory review
Christine Tacon, the Groceries Code Adjudicator, has warmly welcomed the findings of the Government’s Statutory Review of the GCA’s work between April 2016 and March 2019.
She said: “This is a highly positive report that recognises the importance of the GCA in creating a more level playing field for the groceries sector.