SMALL Firms Minister Nigel Griffiths has thrown his weight behind a campaign, launched by a business pressure group, to crack down on the alleged 'bully boy' tactics of supermarket giant Sainsbury.

Mr Griffiths has written to Roger Matthews, Finance Director of J Sainsbury plc, after the Forum of Private Business (FPB) alerted him to a decision by Sainsbury to impose onerous new payment terms on 1900 small suppliers.

Since Mr Griffiths' letter Sainsbury has climbed down on its earlier decision to lengthen payment terms from 21 days to 49 days for invoice payment.