Jenny Linsten replaces Jeff Kennett as Coles’ new Code Arbiter

Amid mounting criticism of price gouging, the supermarket giant has appointed an experienced lawyer to investigate and resolve disputes with suppliers.

Experienced lawyer Jenny Linsten has been appointed Coles’ Code Arbiter as the supermarket giant and its rival Woolworths are placed under unprecedented pressure over price gouging claims.

Ms Linsten replaces former Victorian premier Jeff Kennett after almost 10 years in the role.

The Code Arbiter comes under the voluntary Food and Grocery Code of Conduct, which sets out standards of business conduct between grocery retailers and their suppliers.

Under the code Ms Linsten will be able to investigate and resolve disputes between Coles and merchandise suppliers and provide ongoing feedback and recommendations to improve its practices. She will start on February 15.

Experienced lawyer Jenny Linsten has been appointed Coles’ new Code Arbiter.

The supermarket giants are the subject of a number of ongoing inquiries into grocery pricing, with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission considering legal action.

Coles and Woolworths made net profits of $1.1bn and $1.62bn, respectively, last financial year amid accusations of inflated prices.

Coles Group chief executive Leah Weckert said the independent model, supported by the Code Arbiter, was an important mechanism to ensure trust and transparency throughout the grocery sector, and was an avenue for suppliers to address any issues.

“We would like to thank Jeff for his contribution over the past 10 years and throughout the Code’s evolution, and for his part in enacting a robust, fair and timely supplier dispute resolution process,” she said.

“Jenny brings a wealth of experience from the legal and commercial sectors, and we look

forward to working with her from February.”

Jenny Linsten has been appointed Coles’ Code Arbiter.

Ms Linsten brings more than 30 years’ legal and commercial experience to the role, including as general counsel and company secretary of the Ford Motor Company of Australia, lawyer at

Clayton Utz and principal of her own legal advisory practice, Jenny Linsten Legal.

She said Coles’ ongoing commitment to an independent dispute resolution process gives suppliers, and the public, confidence concerns were being heard and acted upon.

“I recognise Coles’ leadership in this space and look forward to meeting and hearing from Coles’ suppliers through my role as Code Arbiter,” she said.

But Bundaberg grower Trevor Cross offered a lukewarm review of the new Coles appointment and arbitration process run from within one of the few main buyers of fruit and vegetables.

“Everyone keeps talking about it, that we need someone to look into the system, but the biggest problem is everyone is scared to say something because they’ll lose their orders,” he said.

“Someone should legislate it so that supermarkets have to tell consumers (how much) they’re buying stuff for.

“People keep telling me, ‘oh, zucchinis are $6.99, you must be making money’. No, not when they buy them off me for a dollar.”

Mr Kennett was first appointed as Coles’ independent arbiter in 2014 under its supplier charter, before formally taking up the role as Code Arbiter under the revised Code in 2020.

Coles was the first Australian supermarket retailer to adopt an independent arbitration process to help resolve commercial disputes.