The Grocer reports a conclusion to the case involving a row over delisting
Aldi has reportedly settled out of court in a dispute with its former brassica suppliers.
According to The Grocer, on 1 October the Hight Court ordered a stay (halt) to all action in a case pitting the discounter against its former sprout and brassica suppliers John Clappison and Matthew Rawson, after recording that they had come to a “confidential settlement”.
Aldi had been sued for £3.7mn by the Yorkshire growers, who had claimed they were delisted without due notice and in contravention of the Groceries Supply Code of Practice (GSCOP).
The case would have gone to a final High Court hearing next year had it not been settled.
The issue has drawn in Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA) Mark White and could have major implications for both suppliers and supermarkets, The Grocer said.
The trade publication revealed in December that Aldi was facing an unprecedented intervention by the GCA over the issue, with lawyers for both Aldi and the GCA clashing over whether the regulator should be allowed to give evidence in the case. Aldi’s lawyers argued it could be seen as a “partisan” move.
A court judgement in July paved the way for White to advise on evidence in the hearing, The Grocer said.
Aldi and the farmers’ lawyers both declined to comment to The Grocer.
