INTRODUCTION FROM THE BOARD
Very simply, we are committed to doing what is right. We believe we have a responsibility to ensure that our business is conducted in an ethical way and this includes understanding and addressing any risks however small, of slavery and human trafficking in our own business operations and in the wider supply chains.
ABOUT OUR BUSINESS
BKUK Group Limited is the UK master franchisee for the BURGER KING® brand. Together with our subsidiaries, we also own and operate a number of BURGER KING® restaurants in the UK.
Our Head office is in the UK.
SUPPLY CHAIN VERIFICATION
We are committed to ensuring that there is no modern slavery or human trafficking in our supply chains or in any part of our business.
As a major food company, we have diverse and extensive supply chains. These include the sourcing and provision of various food and packaging products, as well as restaurant staff and ancillary services. We take great pride in serving safe, high quality, sustainably sourced food, with a focus on supporting UK-sourced products.
Our policy is to ensure that potential vendors and suppliers are evaluated for any modern slavery or human trafficking risks before they enter its supply chain, and on an ongoing basis throughout their relationship with the business. As part of our parent company, Restaurants Business International (RBI) we adopt a Code of Business Ethics and Conduct that outlines our zero tolerance for involuntary labour of any kind – whether forced labour, servitude, human trafficking or slavery. We will terminate our business relationship with any vendor or supplier who uses involuntary labour or purchases from any subcontractor who uses involuntary labour of any kind.
We will take all allegations seriously through prompt investigation and pursue action to mitigate any identified adverse human rights impacts.
To assist management and employees who have a direct responsibility for our supply chains, we are committed to introducing awareness raising and education training for them on the importance of implementing and enforcing effective systems to ensure slavery and human trafficking is not taking place in our supply chain.
We have initiated audits of our direct (first tier) suppliers of major products such as food, drink and high-risk non-consumables including packaging, cleaning materials and uniforms. We are also in the process of developing appropriate measures to also confirm annual compliance with the Code by our first and at a later stage second tier suppliers.
DUE DILIGENCE
As part of our initiative to identify and manage risk, in 2019 we are committed to carrying out the following:
- Systems and processes to:
- (a) identify and assess potential risk areas in our supply chains
- (b) monitor potential risk areas in our supply chains and are, as noted above, developing further procedures for non-core suppliers)
- (c) protect whistle blowers and follow up on any grievances
We will build on these systems to ensure that they mitigate the risk of slavery and human trafficking occurring in our supply chains
- Where possible, we build long standing relationships with local suppliers and vendors and ensure that expectations of business behaviour are both clear and consistent;
- With regards to UK or international supply chains, our point of contact is preferably with a UK company or branch who we expect to have suitable anti-slavery and human trafficking policies and processes.
OUR STAFF
To ensure we minimise the risk of slavery and human trafficking within our own business, we carry out rigorous ID checks and Right to Work compliance is in place with managers having received training on this subject. We are currently developing an online training module to ensure new managers also receive this training.
BKUK Group Ltd also have grievance and whistleblowing policies which are available in all sites.
FURTHER STEPS FOR 2019
We will continue to review all our direct suppliers and our own business to ensure that there is no slavery or human trafficking within our supply chains and own operations. This will include ensuring all relevant policies and procedures are up to date and relevant staff are trained so that there is a complete awareness and understanding of their roles and responsibilities in achieving compliance.
We will develop a clear governance process that will ensure potential incidents of slavery or human trafficking and non-compliances are identified and acted upon promptly and proportionately.
Our commitment to doing what is right extends to how we manage and uphold our policy on slavery and human trafficking as the business grows ensuring that our approach is transparent, consistent and fair.
BOARD APPROVAL
This statement is made pursuant to section 54(1) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and constitutes BKUK Group Ltd and its franchisees’ slavery and human trafficking statement for the current financial year. This statement was approved by the board of BKUK Group Ltd on 15 December 2018.
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