Working with suppliers
We have 700+ suppliers of private brand products, fresh fruit & vegetables, and indirect goods & services.
Having a base of competitive suppliers, who share our purpose of delivering leading Nordic private brands to the 27 million Nordic consumers, is key to us. We believe in partnerships with our partner suppliers as being fundamental for innovation, successful category development, and creating an excellent value for money perception with our consumers. We need suppliers who buy in to our purpose and challenge our ways of working and thinking and make us better.
Approximately 10 % of our suppliers are ‘partner suppliers’ with whom we collaborate on growth focusing on category development with superior product quality and operational excellence to support of our business purpose.
Before becoming an active supplier, the supplier must commit to our Product and Quality Requirements (PQRs) and Supplier Code of Conduct (CoC).
The PQRs define what we require in addition to legal requirements regarding quality management, transparence, health and safety, climate, environment and sustainability and responsible animal protection.
The CoC (based on the amfori BSCI principles) define how we require suppliers to ensure human rights and decent employment as well as protection of the environment in their supply chains.
Every year, we verify suppliers’ compliance with the CoC 3rd party social audit requirement and selected PQRs.
Most of our suppliers are based in Europe which is important to ensure a high service level and minimum negative sustainability impact, however, for some product categories suppliers based outside Europe are more appropriate to also ensure a healthy supplier base, service level, and a competitive product range.
To drive sustainable transformation and reduce climate impact, we encourage and expect our suppliers to take action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to commit to the Science Based Target Initiative (SBTi). Partner suppliers must include actions to improve the sustainability of supplier’s business. We work closely with all partners to improve packaging solutions – both on functionality to satisfy consumer needs and on logistics to reduce CO2 emissions from transportation.
We appreciate suppliers sharing examples and proofs of actions towards a more sustainable production.
