20 July 2006

Sainsbury's plans to monitor suppliers further down its supply chain for compliance with its code on responsible sourcing.

The retailer outlined the plan in its latest corporate social responsibility (CSR) report.

Launched in 1998, the code sets out the labour standards Sainsbury's expects suppliers to meet. It covers terms of trading, child protection, worker health and safety, equal opportunities, freedom of association, freedom of employment, hours of work and pay.

Its latest CSR report said: "We are extending our monitoring further back up our supply chain by auditing selected indirect suppliers. In addition, we are working with some indirect produce, meat, fish and poultry suppliers to develop monitoring systems."

Sainsbury's is also launching a "supply something new" scheme to increase its small British suppliers by 50 per cent in 2006-07. It currently has around 3,500.

The scheme will see representatives from the supermarket take to the road every two months in a search for new UK suppliers.

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