Most of the raw materials for our products are grown in distant countries outside Europe, because that is where the climatic conditions needed for their cultivation prevail. Due to the diversity of our raw materials, this leads to a complex procurement strategy, which makes it all the more important that we ensure the greatest possible transparency regarding agricultural products and their origin. In fact, the basis for the quality of our products is actually created during their cultivation. Therefore, it goes without saying that quality assurance and management have the highest priority along our entire value-added and supply chain.
We are continuously working to improve transparency and traceability. For example, by reducing the number of intermediaries, we are gradually creating more insight into the deep supply chain as well as cultivation and production processes.
Collaboration with suppliers with whom we have long-standing, trusting relationships in order to guarantee the quality and traceability of raw materials
We are continuously working to improve our commitment to sustainability and are focussing on four areas of action with different priorities. These include the area of ‘Responsible procurement’. Among other things, we are working on incorporating sustainability aspects – such as ethics and fairness, the promotion of sustainable cultivation methods and commitment to climate protection – more and more into the selection of suppliers.
Enforcing stringent testing and control mechanisms along the entire procurement and supply chain to ensure the quality of raw materials and to minimise the risk of food fraud
Compliance with human rights along the entire supply chain is a fundamental requirement for us, and constitutes a prerequisite for cooperation with our business partners. Our actions are based on globally accepted frameworks:
We use the suppliers’ self-assessment to carry out a suitability check on potential new suppliers. Answering the questionnaire is a prerequisite for your company to be included in our list of potential suppliers.
