An Rialálaí Agraibhia (Agri-Food Regulator) has opened its survey of suppliers of agri-food products into the retail and wholesale market. 

The online survey gives suppliers an opportunity to confidentially provide feedback to the Agri-Food Regulator about their experiences of trading with eight specific buyers.

These are: Aldi Ireland; BWG Foods; Dunnes Stores; Lidl Ireland; Marks and Spencer Ireland; Musgrave Group; Sysco Ireland; and Tesco Ireland. 

This is the second supplier survey to be carried out.

Niamh Lenehan, CEO of the Agri-Food Regulator, said it is a "key annual process to help facilitate suppliers informing the regulator about their trading experiences over the last 12 months".

“We want to hear the lived experiences of agri-food product suppliers," Lenehan said.

"This includes businesses supplying alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, plants, flowers, as well as all food products."

Common issues

Last year’s survey, which gathered feedback on over 940 trading relationships, found a high overall level of supplier satisfaction with how buyers conduct their business, though one in seven respondents reported being subject to an unfair trading practice (UTP).

Requiring the supplier to pay for loss or product deterioration, and delayed payments were the two most common issues faced by respondents, according to the regulator.

However, many suppliers admitted to not raising potential breaches in UTPs with buyers, either due to lack of awareness on their rights, or the wish to maintain long-term relationships.

Questions in the survey cover suppliers’ experiences of unfair trading practices (UTPs), their relationships with buyers, and other issues that may impact them.

The Agri-Food Regulator is the enforcement authority for the unfair trading regulations that seek to protect smaller suppliers of agri-food products from larger buyers through the prohibition of certain practices.

'Crucial'

Commenting on the benefit to suppliers of completing the survey, Lenehan said that "honest and frank feedback from suppliers is crucial". 

"Last year’s survey findings have helped to inform our ongoing work programme with respect to awareness campaigns and the conducting of risk-based inspections," she added.

"The information provided also helps inform the regulator of good practices on the ground and will be used to support the development of buyer guidelines."

While the Agri-Food Regulator has sought the assistance from the eight buyer businesses to distribute the survey, buyers will not know if their suppliers do or do not complete it.

The survey is being conducted independently by RED C on behalf of the Agri-Food Regulator and the information provided will be treated with the strictest of confidence.

Survey

A supplier only needs to complete the survey once, even if they receive a link from more than one of the eight businesses.

If suppliers do not receive a link from their buyer, the survey is also available on the Agri-Food Regulator’s website.

The following suppliers of agri-food products should complete the survey: directly supplying (i.e. the business invoices the retailer/wholesaler); and indirectly supplying (i.e. they supply products to a business that ultimately get sold by a retailer/wholesaler).

The survey is open for four weeks and will close on Wednesday, February 18, 2026.

It is intended that the findings will be published in the summer.