Listen Now: 
Labour's regional economic development spokesperson, Shane Jones, has asked the Commerce Commission to take up his concerns about the way supermarkets interact with their suppliers.
In Parliament yesterday, Mr Jones claimed managers of the Australian-owned Countdown chain were demanding backdated cheques from New Zealand suppliers to make up for what they said were insufficient profits.
Countdown owner Progressive Enterprises has denied the claim, but Food and Grocery Council chief executive Katherine Rich says the council is aware of incidents where member companies have been asked for retrospective cash payments.
Mr Jones says he is limited by parliamentary privilege as to what he can say outside the house, but he has filed a complaint with the Commerce Commission.
"The issues that I’ve discussed with the Commerce Commission are contained in a letter. I’ve had a discussion with the chairman of the Commerce Commission and in the event he gets back to me formally, I look forward to participating in whatever steps he might take based on the contents of my letter to him," he says.
FOR THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH SHANE JONES CLICK ON THE LINK
http://www.waateanews.com/play_podcast?podlink=MTUzNDg=
Copyright © 2014, UMA Broadcasting Ltd
RELATED NEWS
