Baker & Baker has become a business partner of Stronger Together, the not-for-profit organisation that helps firms mitigate labour exploitation in their operations and supply chains.
The European sweet bakery supplier said the move helps demonstrate its position as a market leader in responsible recruitment and dovetail with the value chain goals of its customers.
Stronger Together provides businesses with guidance, practical training, resources, and collaborative programmes to embed good employment practices and reduce the risk of labour exploitation, it added. Its impact-driven work currently spans three continents – Europe, North America, and Africa.
Many Baker & Baker colleagues have already received training on modern slavery, with a Modern Slavery Response Plan and a Modern Slavery Response team established at all four of its UK sites in Bromborough (Wirral), Ashington, Bradford, and Daventry.
Progress will also be reported annually to Baker & Baker customers involved in the programme.
“Modern slavery is a significant challenge within the food industry, and considering our global supply chains, we have a responsibility to demonstrate leadership in preventing cases from occurring in conjunction with our suppliers,” commented Roeland de Wolf, group HR director at Baker & Baker.
“We see registering as a Stronger Together Business Partner as a positive step in promoting industry collaboration and the sharing of best practice, and to ensure we are operating as effectively as possible with our value chain.”
Stronger Together co-CEO Jantine Werdmuller von Elgg, added: “We’re delighted that Baker & Baker are showing their commitment to tackling labour exploitation as a Stronger Together Business Partner. By uploading evidence to publicly demonstrate the steps they have taken to mitigate and address the risk of modern slavery, they show that they support Stronger Together’s vision to create a world where all workers are recruited responsibly and have an opportunity for work that is fair and free from exploitation.”
Baker & Baker’s sustainability goals include a strong commitment to tackling greenhouse gas emissions, with its roadmap towards net zero by 2040 validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) last year.
In its most recent financial results for the year to 31 December 2022, the British arm of Baker & Baker posted sales of £223m, an 8.3% increase from the £205.9m recorded the year prior. However, rising costs of raw materials and energy saw operating profit slump to a £4.3m loss.
Its portfolio of brands including Baker & Baker American Bakery, Goldfrost, Concadoro, and Molco, as well as licencing agreements with Mondelēz and Disney, supply a wide range of doughnuts, muffins, brownies, cookies, cakes, specialty breads, and viennoiserie to customers in the retail, food service, and artisan channels. One of its most recent collaborations with Mondelēz saw the launch of the Cadbury Mini Eggs Chocolate Cookie for Easter trade at Tesco, Asda and Co-op stores.
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