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Commitments

Continue to ensure that all own-brand suppliers are registered on Sedex and complete a self-assessment questionnaire.

Risk-assess our supply base to determine high-priority suppliers to undergo independent, third-party audits.

Explore alternatives in categories and industries where Sedex is inappropriate.

Agree terms of payment with our suppliers in advance and pay promptly in accordance with these terms.


Setting up shop:

All major food retailers, including Waitrose, are required to comply with the Groceries Supply Code of Practice (GSCOP) by February 2010. GSCOP, the result of an investigation by the Competition Commission, is designed to protect suppliers from excessive risks and undue costs. A Waitrose project team will ensure all terms, agreements and contracts in place are fully compliant by the deadline, and the terms and spirit of GSCOP communicated to all suppliers.


Suppliers registered on Sedex

Waitrose (952 supplier sites)

914 (96%)

92% of registered sites completing self assessments

John Lewis (1,521 supplier sites)

1,065 (70%)

50% of registered sites completing self assessments



Our suppliers

Responsible sourcing

We believe in working in partnership with our 5,400 suppliers, treating all those in our supply chain honestly and fairly, and supporting them in ‘obeying the law and respecting the wellbeing of their employees, their local communities and the environment’, a statement ingrained in our Constitution.

All our own-brand suppliers must commit to meeting the requirements of our Partnership-wide Responsible Sourcing Code of Practice. The Code, based on internationally agreed conventions on workers’ rights, covers issues including child and forced labour, health and safety, working hours and wages. We also expect our suppliers to be honest about the issues they face and share best practice, so we can work together to make realistic, long-term improvements.

Our own-brand suppliers are required to register on Sedex – the largest global database on labour standards – and complete a self-assessment questionnaire, in order for us to assess the labour standards and working practices at their sites; high-priority sites are also independently audited. Approximately 1,900 Partnership own-brand supplier sites are currently registered on Sedex. This process is cyclical, with regular data updates and audits, and the ongoing management of non-compliance should any supplier fall short of our high standards. Because of planned growth in own-brand products, through 2009 John Lewis has spent time considering how to support this and ensure they are working with the best suppliers to realise their ambition. As a result, they have renewed their ethical and technical supplier assessment framework, which is now being launched to suppliers.

Supporting our suppliers

The principles of fairness, flexibility and openness that we foster with our suppliers extend to paying suppliers on time, and giving them clear guidance on our payment terms. Our commitment to such best practice measures was reflected in the Partnership becoming a co-supporter of the Government’s Prompt Payment Code, a voluntary scheme launched by Lord Mandelson, the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, in December 2008.

Given the current economic environment, we have taken other constructive steps to help the businesses we trade with, especially small enterprises, to remain viable. Waitrose has introduced a milk price pledge, through which we agree to pay our dairy farmers a premium over the market price, and for many years now, we have had in place a pricing model for British pig farmers, which takes into account the cost of sustainable production methods and ensures our suppliers receive a fair return (see also Trading fairly and Waitrose Foundation on page 14).
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