It definitely has an impact, but we've seen cases.... I've been with CFIG 18 years and I can tell you we've seen cases over the years where suppliers are doing things that in terms of pricing and supply.... We don't use the term “equal supply"; we're talking about fair supply. One of the principles that suppliers are fond of espousing is that if you have contractor terms of agreement, then that's what you have. We agree. But we've been on the receiving end of that as well, where suppliers will inform us.... Even during COVID, we got an email sent out—I'd better not say the name of the company—from a national producer of, let's just say, product that was important in the context of COVID—saying that they will not be supplying any independents until April because Walmart and Loblaws have asked for it all. And that was in writing.
To us, that's unacceptable. That's the kind of thing that should be covered in a grocery code. If you have contractual arrangements with other independents, honour those as well.