A strategic approach

Critical to our ability to deliver products daily to our customers is our ability to secure a supply of high quality ingredients and services, many daily. We define our approach to our supplier relationships by carefully considering their role within our long-term business plan. As such we have shorter-term relationships with suppliers which focus on obtaining a quality product at the very best price and strategic relationships with suppliers with whom we can work long-term.

Over the years we have built many strong and mutually beneficial relationships with a number of suppliers and we plan to work with these companies on a long-term basis. Our approach is one of commercial collaboration and we believe our relationship with long-term strategic suppliers underpins not only our future success, but theirs too. The criteria for selection is that they can meet our long-term needs by demonstrating technical excellence, financial strength, efficiency and the capability of developing a long-term partnership. In return, we provide these suppliers with development briefs and long-term account plans from which we can both measure our success.

Ethical trading

The Group supports the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the core conventions of the International Labour Organisation. As a minimum standard we require our suppliers to comply with all local and national laws, particularly in the areas of working hours and conditions, Health and Safety, rates of pay, terms of employment and minimum age of employment.

SEDEX is a web-based tool enabling retailer and suppliers who sign up to it to maintain and share online data on labour standards throughout the supply chain. At Bakkavör Group, we ask all of our suppliers to become members of SEDEX and, currently, around 300 are listed on the SEDEX system. 

Since October 2006, temporary labour providers in the UK have been obliged to obtain a Gangmasters Licence in order to operate legally in the agriculture, food processing and packaging sectors. At Bakkavör Group we work closely with a carefully selected group of temporary labour providers to ensure the necessary licences are in place and all our temporary workers are treated according to UK legislation.

From time to time we carry out ethical audits on our suppliers based on a risk-assessment and customer input. Any non-conformities are highlighted and signed off by the auditor once corrected.

Here you can find information on how to become a Bakkavör supplier.