I have mixed feelings about the Office of Fair Trading’s review of the supermarkets’ code of practice. Since the code was first announced, many suppliers and the groups representing them were quick to say it was likely to be ineffectual and fell short of what was really required by the sector.

The Fresh Produce Consortium was among them. But rather than sit and wait for someone else to do something about it, the consortium has once again galvanised the sector into action and set about organising discussion between retailers - beyond the Big Four - and suppliers to establish their own, effective code.

If no suppliers in any sector were prepared even in the confidence of a review situation with OFT researchers to provide anything more than anecdotal evidence of breaches of the code, then it is not surprising that the review could come up with nothing more conclusive than that more research is needed.

However, the supermarkets involved all say how supportive they are of the code and the OFT’s investigation. And they really do seem to be able to come up with hard evidence of good working practice with suppliers.

The produce industry’s initiative is to be commended and supported. After all what are the alternatives? To wait for yet another enquiry to report back and risk intervention in the form of a government regulator.

Whatever happens, the further investigation by the OFT will go ahead, but at least this time it is likely to find hard evidence of a sector working to resolve potential difficulties rather than waiting on a third party.