IFA: ‘Hello money’ must be stamped out in new retail code of practice

“HELLO money”, profiteering and strong arm tactics by retailers must be stamped out by any new code of practice for the Irish retail sector, says IFA president Padraig Walshe.

The Irish Farmers Association president also insisted that the proposed code be statutory, and that an ombudsman must accompany the eventual roll-out of the new regulations. The other farming organisations have also rejected the notion that adherence to the code could be voluntary, adding that the process did not reflect the urgent plight in which food suppliers currently find themselves.

Fine Gael agriculture spokesman Michael Creed said that over €160 million of illegal “hello money” has been paid to retail chains by farmers to get their produce stocked in Irish supermarkets.