Supermarkets’ profits slammed
24th August 2004 - Andrew McLeanWest Dorset Liberal Democrats today slammed supermarkets’ profits as “excessive” and called for a better deal for local farmers.
Supermarket profits have risen by 300% during the last 15 years. In the same period, their directors have reaped an astonishing 557% increase in pay, whilst farmers’ incomes have risen less than a third - a paltry 29%.
These figures published today by the Liberal Democrats show the Code of Practice, which governs the relations between the major supermarkets and farmers, to be totally inadequate.
Andrew George MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow Food and Rural Affairs Secretary will meet with the DTI Minister, Gerry Sutcliffe MP, in October to discuss the need for a strengthened Code of Practice and a greater role for the OFT.
Local Liberal Democrat Justine McGuinness plans to meet her Party’s Parliamentary Spokesperson, Andrew George MP, before he sees the Government Minister.
Ms McGuinness will tell him West Dorset’s farmers deserve a fairer deal.
Commenting on the research, Justine said:
“Supermarkets are now so powerful they can dictate market conditions for British farmers. Their profits are excessive. West Dorset’s dairy farmers in particular are not getting a fair deal. Their hard work is not reflected in the price farmers get for milk. They struggle to make any income, while the supermarkets make huge profits.”
Andrew George MP said:
“While the supermarkets’ fifty five top executives are creaming it, many dairy farmers are struggling to make any income at all. I am all in favour of rewarding success, but this is simply rewarding those who have all the cards stacked up on their side of the supply chain.
“It is clear the Government can no longer sit on its hands whilst the supermarkets squeeze the lifeblood from our countryside. Food supply chain relationships need rebalancing, the Supermarket Code must be strengthened and the OFT must get tough with the bully-boy tactics of the big boys.”
