Twelve months after the Competition Commission (CC) concluded its inquiry into the grocery market none of its recommendations are in place.

The lack of progress has prompted ACS to call on the CC to end its "slow moving and wholly ineffective" consultation on the creation of an industry ombudsman based on a voluntary agreement among large retailers.

ACS chief executive James Lowman said: "In a year that has been characterised by delay and confusion, the Commission has been ineffective in delivering on its recommendations.

"The grocery inquiry report stated that an ombudsman was necessary to deliver a fairer grocery market. That remains ever more the case. Now is the time for ministers to step in and deliver a compulsory solution."

However, the British Retail Consortium (BRC), which represents large retailers, said there was no need for an ombudsman to protect suppliers. "Most supermarket suppliers are multinational businesses perfectly able to stand up for themselves," said BRC food policy director Andrew Opie. "The last thing needed now is a new multimillion pound bureaucracy."