Amazon must take swift action to improve treatment of suppliers, regulator says

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Amazon must take “swift and comprehensive action” to improve its compliance with industry rules designed to protect suppliers, the grocery regulator has said. The Groceries Code Adjudicator said it would “not hesitate” to launch a formal investigation if necessary to ensure Amazon was treating its suppliers fairly and lawfully. Groceries Code Adjudicator Mark White said: “I am encouraged to see improvements in retailers’ treatment of suppliers across a range of issues including the management of cost price increase requests but also resolution of invoice discrepancies and data input errors. We have made a series of improvements to our grocery supplier experience since last year’s results, with clearer explanations for cost price increase decisions, minimum periods for de-listing, and the launch of a major upgrade for handling invoice disputes Amazon “I encourage suppliers to continue to confidentially tell me about the issues they are facing with Amazon.” An Amazon spokesman said: “We are very disappointed by these results and we are committed to improving them.