The food and grocery industry code is a mandatory set of rules for how large grocery businesses must treat their suppliers.
It took effect on 1 April 2025.
Mandatory for large grocery businesses
The code is mandatory for large grocery businesses with annual revenue over $5 billion.
Large grocery businesses currently covered by the code are:
- Aldi
- Coles
- Metcash
- Woolworths.
Suppliers
Under the food and grocery code, a supplier:
- is a person carrying on (or actively seeking to carry on) a business of supplying grocery products for retail sale to consumers by another person (whether or not that other person is the person supplied)
- can be a wholesaler, but a large wholesaler may not be a supplier.
If you're a supplier, see Supplier rights and complaints
Legislation
The code forms part of the Competition and Consumer (Industry Codes—Food and Grocery) Regulations 2024 made under Chapter 4, Part IVB, Volume 1 of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Act).
Visit the Federal Register of Legislation website to view the:
- Competition and Consumer (Industry Codes—Food and Grocery) Regulations 2024
- Competition and Consumer Act 2010
Previous code
It replaced the voluntary code in the Competition and Consumer (Industry Codes—Food and Grocery) Regulation 2015.
Other agencies
There are a some Australian Government agencies with responsibilities under the Act and the code.
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) enforces compliance with the code as the regulator.
Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman
Under the code the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman (ASBFEO) keeps the code's alternative dispute resolution practitioners list.
Alternative dispute resolution practitioners provide mediation or arbitration services.