The Groceries Code Adjudicator (or Supermarket Ombudsman) is an independent statutory office responsible for enforcing the Groceries Supply Code of Practice and to regulate the relationship between supermarkets and their direct suppliers within the United Kingdom. The post was created by the and is an independent office within the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. In January 2013 Christine Tacon was appointed to the role for a four-year period. Her first investigation was into the supply chain activities of Tesco plc.