Page 23 Supplier relationships


Working in partnership with a worldwide network of suppliers enables us to offer our customers around 40,000 product lines and helps customers to have trust in how our products are produced and sourced, and confidence that those who supply them are treated fairly. To do that, our suppliers work with us – not for us – and together, we maintain mutually beneficial relationships that help them, and their suppliers, agents and distributors, to create responsible businesses providing long-term employment.


Supplier relationships


Ambition
To trade fairly, ensuring everyone in our supply chain is treated with honesty, fairness and respect.


Targets
> Train all food technologists and buyers on the Responsible Sourcing Code of Practice and supplier assessment programme
> Continue to ensure own-brand suppliers are registered on Sedex (Supplier Ethical Data Exchange), complete a labour standards self-assessment and high-priority suppliers are independently audited
> Support suppliers and their labour providers in complying with the Gangmasters Licensing Act
> Review the operation and impacts of the Waitrose Foundation

More information can be found on www.waitrose.com
More information and detailed data can be found on www.johnlewispartnership.co.uk

See the John Lewis CSR report for more information on our sister company


Our approach to sourcing responsibly
Waitrose's relationships with its suppliers are long-term, mutually beneficial partnerships built on honesty, fairness and mutual respect. We aim to uphold internationally agreed standards of labour, and we expect our suppliers to respect the rights and wellbeing of their employees, support their communities, protect the natural environment and promote high standards of animal welfare. This commitment to sourcing responsibly is engrained in our Constitution and implemented via two initiatives that were collectively awarded Business in the Community (BITC) 'Big Tick' awards in 2007 and 2008 (see page 40):

> the Waitrose Responsible Sourcing Code of Practice and supplier assessment programme, which set out our views on acceptable working conditions and measure suppliers' compliance with our requirements (see page 24)
> the Waitrose Foundation, a unique partnership with South African fruit farmers that provides investment to improve community welfare (see page 26).

The fundamental objectives of both schemes are to raise labour standards in the supply chain, positively contribute to improving the lives and welfare of workers and their local communities, and ensure the continued commercial success and sustainability of our suppliers.


Setting out our expectations
By assessing our suppliers against our Responsible Sourcing Code of Practice, which sets out our expectations in nine different languages, we can ensure they obey the law and respect the wellbeing of their employees, their local communities and the environment. It covers issues such as pay and benefits, hours, working conditions and health and safety, the use of forced, bonded or child labour, employee representation and worker associations, equality of treatment, respect for the environment and animal welfare. The Code is periodically reviewed, and minor amendments last year included an additional clause requiring confidential mechanisms to allow workers to report any sub-standard practices or mistreatment. Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44