National Policy

Annual Moratorium – New Products and Price Changes

Christmas/New Year Moratorium

Each year the Foodstuffs companies ask their vendors to assist them through the exceptionally busy Christmas trading period by voluntarily avoiding any unnecessary price increases and/or product launches at this time. This is a long-standing practice. We are really just asking vendors to avoid creating avoidable administrative work when we are in our busiest trading period and often have reduced labour (due to staff taking leave).

Vendors are asked to plan for price changes and product launches to occur either before the moratorium commences or after it finishes. The moratorium does not apply to normal promotional activity that is agreed between the companies and their vendors to occur at this time, but rather to the underlying list price.

In line with the practice in past years, we are seeking a moratorium that would commence on Monday 30th November 2009 and run through until Sunday 10th January 2010 inclusive. This would mean that the latest date to confirm any pricing adjustments for 2009 will be Monday 19th October 2009, allowing the standard 6 weeks lead time for implementation prior to the moratorium period taking effect.

We thank you for your assistance in this matter.