Good afternoon, Mr. Chair, members of the committee.
My name is Simon Rivet and I'm vice-president, general counsel and corporate secretary at Metro. I'm here at the invitation of the committee to contribute to your study on the implementation of the grocery code of conduct.
With strong roots in Quebec and a growing presence in Ontario since 1999, Metro has always been committed to offering quality products and value to its customers. We know that our success depends on the people and partners who actively participate in the Canadian food system. Our relationships with our suppliers are based on trust, good faith, respect and fairness, which has always allowed us to develop successful solutions through mutually satisfactory agreements.
Canadians count on grocers to provide quality food at affordable prices, and we take that responsibility seriously. Affordability remains a challenge for many households. As we have said before, food price increases have largely reflected higher input costs from suppliers, whether due to commodities, energy, transportation, labour or, more recently, tariffs. These are factors that we do not control.
Despite this, we remain committed to driving tangible results across our operations as we work to keep costs in check while improving how we deliver food at affordable prices to Canadians every day. We've invested nearly $1 billion in recent years to modernize our distribution network, improving efficiency and service for both suppliers and customers. We continue to expand affordable options through value programs and discount formats, ensuring Canadians have choice in all the communities we serve.
We're also proud of our work to strengthen local sourcing and reduce food waste. Metro works with many local and regional suppliers in Quebec and Ontario. Through long-standing partnerships with Feed Ontario and Food Banks of Quebec, we ensure that surplus food is redirected to those in need.
Beyond our own initiatives, we have always emphasized a partnership-driven culture with our vendors, built on good faith, trust and fairness. That same approach underpins our engagement in the development of the grocery code of conduct to reinforce best practices and transparency. Suppliers and retailers alike must voluntarily decide to sign the code, and that can only happen if there is a solid framework in place, a point that was echoed by Karen Proud during her testimony in front of this committee.
Metro's position is clear: We are committed to adopting the industry-led grocery code of conduct once finalized, and we believe the participation of all grocers and suppliers is essential to its success.
Since 2021, through the Retail Council of Canada, Metro has been actively contributing to and participating in various working groups to help define the code's principles of fairness, predictability, and good faith. These principles benefit the entire supply chain, including consumers, who rely on a stable and competitive system.
I can confirm that all major retailers, including Metro, are sitting at the table while we discuss the outstanding issues. We are optimistic that suppliers and retailers will agree on the few points that remain for the code to be implemented.
In parallel with the code's development, we have proactively reviewed our supplier policies and processes to align with the code. By supporting the principles of the code within our organization, Metro is enhancing transparency, predictability and fair dealing throughout the supply chain.
Canadians rely on food retailers to act responsibly and strike a balance between offering value to consumers and treating suppliers fairly. This balance is central to Metro's approach. We continue to work constructively with the office of the grocery sector code of conduct and our counterparts to ensure its success, while continuing our efforts to build consumer trust. We're very proud of the active role Metro has played in developing this code and will continue to work toward its implementation.
Thank you.