A.F. Blakemore & Son Ltd Slavery & Human Trafficking Statement

Introduction from the Managing Director 

Slavery and human trafficking remains a hidden problem within our global society. We all have a responsibility to be alert to the risks, however small, in our business and in the wider supply chain. Employees are expected to report their concerns and management are expected to act upon them. 

Our Company

Our Company consists of eleven divisions: Blakemore Retail, Blakemore Trade Partners, Blakemore Logistics, Blakemore Wholesale Distribution, Blakemore Foodservice, Blakemore Fresh Foods, Blakemore Design & Shopfitting, Blakemore Fine Foods, Blakemore Creative Print and Blakemore Technical Services.

Our Supply Chains 

Our supply chains include the sourcing of materials principally related to the provision of food and drink. 

Our Policies on Human Rights

We are committed to ensuring that there is no modern slavery or human trafficking in our supply chains or in any part of our business. Our Human Rights Policy reflects our commitment to acting ethically and with integrity in all our business relationships and to ensuring slavery and human trafficking is not taking place in our supply chains.

Due Diligence Processes for Slavery and Human Trafficking 

As part of our initiative to identify and mitigate risk:

• We operate licensed premises to ensure optimum control of the work environment;

• We are committed to building long-standing relationships with local suppliers and customers and make clear our expectations of business behaviour;

• With regards to national or international supply chains, our point of contact is preferably with a UK company or branch and we expect these entities to have suitable anti-slavery and human trafficking policies and processes. We expect each entity in the food chain to, at least, adopt ‘one-up’ due diligence on the next link in the chain. It is not practical for us (and every other participant in the chain) to have a direct relationship with all links in the food chain, ultimately to the field or utility generator.

• We have in place systems to encourage the reporting of concerns and the protection of whistle blowers. 

Supplier Adherence to Our Values

We have zero tolerance to slavery and human trafficking. We expect all those in our supply chain and contractors to comply with our values.

The Company’s Directors are responsible for compliance in their respective divisions/departments and for their supplier relationships.

This statement is made pursuant to section 54(1) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and constitutes our group's slavery and human trafficking statement for the current financial year.

All directors and relevant members of staff have been briefed on this policy and its implications.