Walmart, Costco refusing to sign grocery code of conduct 'untenable': industry minister

Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne says it's 'untenable' for 'smaller players' like Walmart and Costco to delay signing on to the government- and industry-led grocery code of conduct, now that industry giant Loblaw has agreed to do so.

Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne says it’s “untenable” for “smaller players” like Walmart and Costco to delay signing on to the government- and industry-led grocery code of conduct, now that industry giant Loblaw has agreed to do so.

“They will sign on,” Champagne told CTV’s Question Period host Vassy Kapelos in an interview airing Sunday. “I have all faith that they will do that.

After months of negotiations, Loblaw announced this week it's ready to sign the grocery code of conduct, with President and CEO Per Bank telling The Canadian Press a revised version of it is "fair."

“We've put pressure on Loblaw, and you see the outcome,” Champagne said. “Obviously, I don't think it would be tenable for Costco or Walmart to disregard what the will of the Government of Canada is, and Canadian consumers.”

The voluntary code of conduct has been in the works for more than two years, but the federal government pledged to accelerate it in the fall as a way to help stabilize food prices. The code of conduct aims to lay out guidelines for fair dealings between grocery retailers and their suppliers.

While not all of Canada’s five major grocers have signed on, Loblaw predicated its participation on that of others.

When asked whether Champagne is involved in discussions to compel other grocers to sign on, the industry minister said “of course.”