The Agri-Food Regulator (An Rialálaí Agraibhia) has launched its first annual survey of the suppliers of agri-food products into the retail and wholesale market.
The survey, released this week and conducted independently by Coyne Research, is an important way for suppliers to confidentially provide feedback to the Agri-Food Regulator about their experiences trading with specific buyers.
These buyers include Aldi Ireland, BWG Foods, Dunnes Stores, Lidl Ireland, Marks & Spencer Ireland, Musgrave Group, Sysco Ireland and Tesco Ireland.
Survey
The survey is open to all suppliers, both direct and indirect, once they supply agri-food products directly to a retailer or wholesaler, or to a business that ultimately provides that product to a retailer or wholesaler.
While the regulator has worked with buyer businesses in developing the survey, all information provided by suppliers will be strictly confidential.
Coyne Research will collate and analyse responses on behalf of the Agri-Food Regulator.
Questions cover suppliers’ relationships with their buyers, as well as their experiences of unfair trading practices and other relevant issues that may impact them.
The survey is open for four weeks and will close on Sunday 9 March 2025.
The regulator has requested that retail and wholesale buyers involved share the survey link directly with their suppliers.
If suppliers have not received a link from their buyer(s), they should still complete the survey by visiting www.agrifoodregulator.ie.
Suppliers should complete the survey only once for their business.
‘Honest And Frank’
Speaking about the survey, the CEO of the Agri-Food Regulator, Niamh Lenehan, said, “Fourteen months since [the] establishment of the office, we are delighted to launch this annual survey as a means to help explore the experiences of suppliers in the agri-food supply chain.
“This survey is an important element of the ongoing stakeholder engagement efforts of the office, and so initiates a yearly process to facilitate suppliers in informing the regulator about their trading experiences – both positive and negative – with specific large buyers.
“I am aware that suppliers might be cautious about providing feedback about their buyers, and [I] am therefore very keen to stress that the survey is absolutely anonymous and confidential.
“Suppliers are being asked to provide an honest and frank assessment of their experiences in the past 12 months.
“Buyers will not be made aware if a supplier completes the survey, nor of any of the comments made by a supplier.”
Lenehan continued, “Apart from what might be considered obvious in terms of agri-food products, products such as live trees [and] cut flowers, as well as alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, are all defined as agri-food products.
“I urge all suppliers to the retail and wholesale sector to consider if any of their products are classified as agri-food products, as the regulator wants to hear from as many suppliers as possible about their experiences.
“Suppliers can visit our website for further details, or contact us directly.”
The Agri-Food Regulator will announce the findings of the survey at its inaugural conference on 20 May.
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