Modern Slavery Act

Organisation

This statement applies to Arthur David Food with Service Ltd (referred to in this statement as ‘the Organisation’). The information included in the statement refers to the financial year ending 31 January 2024.

Organisational structure

Arthur David (Food with Service) Ltd is a wholesale distribution company which stocks and supplies in excess of 4,000 products. 

The product range includes Fresh Produce, Ingredients and Fine Foods, Dairy, Prepared, Bakery, Frozen, and Catering supplies. We supply and distribute goods to our customer base across England and Wales which includes contract caterers, hotels, schools, hospitals, restaurants, manufacturers, public houses and private individuals.

The labour supplied to the Organisation in pursuance of its operation is carried out in Bishop Sutton and Bristol.

Definitions

The Organisation considers that modern slavery encompasses:

• human trafficking
• forced work, through mental or physical threat.
• being owned or controlled by an employer through mental or physical abuse of the threat of abuse.
• being dehumanised, treated as a commodity or being bought or sold as property.
• being physically constrained or to have restriction placed on freedom of movement.

Commitment

The Organisation acknowledges its responsibilities in relation to tackling modern slavery and commits to complying with the provisions in the Modern Slavery Act 2015. The Organisation understands that this requires an ongoing review of both its internal practices in relation to its labour force and, additionally, its supply chains.

The Organisation does not enter into business with any other organisation, in the United Kingdom or abroad, which knowingly supports or is found to involve itself in slavery, servitude and forced or compulsory labour.

No labour provided to the Organisation in the pursuance of the provision of its own services is obtained by means of slavery or human trafficking. The Organisation strictly adheres to the minimum standards required in relation to its responsibilities under relevant employment legislation in the UK.

Supply chains

In order to fulfil its activities, the main supply chains of the Organisation include those related to the supply of food products in both the United Kingdom and abroad.

As part of its contracting and due diligence process, the Company requires its supplier to commit and comply with all applicable laws and regulations including the Company’s policies.  Suppliers are required to complete the Company’s Supplier Questionnaire, which includes providing us with a copy of their own company’s Modern Slavery.  The Company’s Technical Department then reviews the completed questionnaire and Statement as part of the supplier set up process to ensure they are compliant.

The Company reserves the right to carry out internal audits of suppliers on an ad hoc basis at any time.

As and when required, the Company conducts an appropriate level of diligence on its suppliers, inclusive of agency workers.

The Company would address any failure by a supplier to meet the Company’s standards on a case-by-case basis.  Organisations which fail to meet the Company’s standard may jeopardise their ability to continue to supply the business and, ultimately, the Company may immediately cease trading with such suppliers until a detailed investigation is carried out.

Potential exposure

In general, the Organisation considers its exposure to slavery/human trafficking to be relatively limited. Nonetheless, it has taken steps to ensure that such practices do not take place in its business nor the business of any organisation that supplies goods and/or services to it.

Steps

The Organisation carries out due diligence processes in relation to ensuring slavery and/or human trafficking does not take place in its organisation or supply chains, including conducting a review of the controls of its suppliers.

The Organisation has not, to its knowledge, conducted any business with another organisation which has been found to have involved itself with modern slavery.

In accordance with section 54(4) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015, the Organisation has taken the following steps to ensure that modern slavery is not taking place:

Policies

The Organisation has the following policies which further define its stance on modern slavery and can be available to all staff via their line manager, internal e-mail and noticeboards.

• Whistleblowing Policy
• Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy
• Recruitment and Onboarding Policy

We will continue to embed the principles through providing awareness training to staff on the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and informing them of the appropriate action to take if they suspect a case of slavery or human trafficking. We actively encourage our employees to report any activity they believe to be unlawful and/or in breach of its policies and standards, either to a Line Manager, other members of the Senior Management Team or via our whistleblowing channels whistleblowing@adavid.co.uk

This statement is made in pursuance of Section 54(1) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and will be reviewed for each financial year.

Date of approval: 23 July 2024