Is Tesco's procurement strategy always wrong?

Readers of this blog will know I haven't been overly sympathetic of all Tesco's woes, however, today I find myself loosely in agreement with a Tesco approach that is the latest focus of criticism. The Sunday Times reports Tesco threatens new squeeze on suppliers' -  the criticism based on alleged letters send by Tesco to suppliers demanding a price decrease due to the recent fall in commodity prices.


I do not know the precise wording of Tesco's contracts, but if they were on a Rise and Fall basis, and the supplies in question are directly linked to commodity prices, then I would expect to see price decreases flowing through too. Of course, when the commodity prices inevitably rise, it would then also be fair and reasonable for Tesco to accept corresponding price rises.

I have spent years observing buyers accept the price rises, and on many occasions they have been unjustifiably linked to RPI, etc., yet those same buyers rarely chase the linked price decreases - that's just bad price management and bad procurement. That laissez faire approach to procurement costs businesses money and the profession reputation.

Having said that, if Tesco haven't contracted on a R&F basis, then their cavalier attitude to supplier management suggests they haven't learnt anything of late and deserve all the criticism they get. Nevertheless, perhaps, given the recent history, Tesco may have approached this initiative slightly differently and sensitively. 

Tesco, the Groceries Code Adjudicator and CIPS

You are probably already aware that the Groceries Code Adjudicator has announced that her first inquiry will be into Tesco's 'supply chain bullying'. Of course this is not the first inquiry to touch Tesco's fallen angel procurement, it joins those of the Serious Fraud Office and the Financial Reporting Council.

You may have thought this was an appropriate time for the newly badged Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply to show its teeth too, but I was amazed to learn that David Noble, CIPS CX response to the news of the Groceries Code Adjudicator's inquiry was:

"This remedial action is tantamount to closing the stable door once the horse has bolted"

What on earth is the business world to understand from such a platitude? Surely, CIPS are not advocating the potential breach of the Code should not be investigated? What action are CIPS proposing to take in demonstrating its own Ethical Code has teeth? Would this not have been the right time for CIPS to have championed the Inquiry and champion good supply chain management practice?