• Helen McKenzie has been appointed Woolworths' first ever code arbiter, to oversee the group's performance against the Food and Grocery Code.
    Helen McKenzie has been appointed Woolworths' first ever code arbiter, to oversee the group's performance against the Food and Grocery Code.
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Woolworths has appointed a Food and Grocery Code of Conduct arbiter to oversee the group's compliance with the recently strengthened code.

Lawyer Helen McKenzie will be responsible for dealing with supplier complaints about Woolworths' compliance with the code.

The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission updated the code on 3 October, outlining changes to dispute resoltuion, good faith, and negotiating price rises.

https://www.accc.gov.au/business/industry-codes/food-and-grocery-code-of-conduct/changes-to-the-food-and-grocery-code

McKenzie is an employment lawyer experienced in dispute resolution including conciliation, arbitration, mediation, and grievance procedures. Her background includes advising on and drafting procedures for the resolution of disputes, complaints, and grievances, including whistleblower complaints and third-party complaints.

Woolworths Group CEO Brad Banducci said: “Helen has a distinguished record in the law, including in dispute resolution, over many years and is well placed to fulfil this critically important role.

“Her long experience in legal and business leadership roles means she also brings a high level of commercial acumen to the appointment.”

Banducci said the company’s goal was to be the retail partner of choice for its 5400 food and grocery suppliers. “We will continue to work hard to foster fair, transparent and mutually beneficial partnerships, which enable us to meet the evolving needs of our shared customers in a competitive market,” he said.

As code arbiter, McKenzie will have authority to settle disputes relating to Woolworths’ obligations under the Code, develop and follow a new complaints handling procedure, and prepare annual reports that will be published and provided to the ACCC and government-appointed Independent Reviewer. The role replaces its code compliance manager, who previously dealt with complaints.

Banducci said: “As founding signatories, we've been strong advocates of the Food and Grocery Code of Conduct for many years.

“The Code provides a robust set of checks and balances and Graeme Samuel’s independent review found it has helped improve relationships between retailers and suppliers. The introduction of the independent code arbiter role for each signatory was a key recommendation from that review.

“The enhanced dispute resolution mechanisms in the Code are now among the strongest in the retail industry anywhere in the world and will provide additional assurances that suppliers can speak up safely and have commercial grievances resolved as objectively and expeditiously as possible.” 

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