This document establishes the statutory minimum wage rates and employment conditions for workers within the retail food trade in England and Wales as of 1970. The order was issued by the government of Great Britain under the authority of the Wages Councils Act 1959, which empowered the state to intervene in sectors where collective bargaining was deemed insufficient to protect employee interests. It provides a rigid framework for calculating pay, overtime, and holiday entitlements for specific classes of retail employees.

Legal historians and labor researchers utilize this document as a primary source for understanding the regulatory environment of the British retail sector in the late 20th century. It serves as a technical reference for tracking the evolution of minimum wage standards prior to the implementation of the National Minimum Wage Act.