Supermarket ombudsman must protect farmer identity

The Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers has warned government officials that complaining farmers would face the wrath of retailers’ swinging powers if their identity was revealed.

Because dairy industry contracts are so fragile, Tom Rabbetts, RABDF technical and policy advisor, said farmers could easily be dealt a knock-out blow by retailers.

Mr Rabbetts recently submitted the RABDF opinion to the Department of Business Innovation and Skills, the department responsible for the public consultation on how to deliver the ombudsman.

He said: “If a retailer is investigated, gets wind of the complainant and decides to flex its muscles, then the effects could be disastrous.

“The minimum damage caused would be a huge blow to the supplier’s reputation, but potentially the loss of a contract they depend on, through no fault of their own.

“The new body has above all else to ensure that if a supplier has a complaint to make, they can do it in full confidentiality.”

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