Grocery code of conduct launch paused over dissent from Loblaw, Walmart: board

Without the support of all major grocers, the interim board said it can't proceed in implementing the required steps to launch the code.

After two years of work, the group responsible for developing the grocery code of conduct says its launch is being held back by a lack of support from two major grocers.

“We’re at an impasse,” said Michael Graydon, CEO of the Food, Health & Consumer Products of Canada association and chairman of the interim board for the code.

The board sent a progress report to the federal, territorial and provincial agriculture ministers on Wednesday.

“There is a concern that without the full participation of all major grocers, the implementation of the Code would create an unlevel playing field and put affected stakeholders at a competitive disadvantage,” the report reads.

Without the support of all major grocers, the interim board said it can’t proceed in implementing the required steps to launch the code.

“What we’re faced with now is no consensus and a failure to achieve what industry has told us they would achieve without government intervention. To say this is disappointing would be an understatement,” said federal Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay in an emailed statement on Wednesday evening.

The code was always intended to be industry-led, but the industry has “failed to meet the moment,” he said.

“We’re actively examining all available federal options _ that includes legislation,” added MacAulay.