New grocery code of conduct welcomed as 'long-awaited step'

New grocery code of conduct welcomed as 'long-awaited step'
The new grocery commissioner, Pierre van Heerden. (Image: NZME)
Staff reporters
The New Zealand Food and Grocery Council has welcomed the new Grocery Supply Code of Conduct, launched by the government on Friday.NZ’s supermarket chains could face multimillion-dollar fines under the code, which requires them to treat their suppliers fairly. Supermarkets will have to pay local suppliers on time, and act with good faith.The maximum penalty for companies breaching the code is the greater of 3% of turnover, the value of any commercial gain from the breach, or $3 million.Council chief executive Raewyn Bleakley sai...