A.F. Blakemore & Son Ltd – Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement
Financial Year Ending 27 April 2025
A.F. Blakemore & Son Ltd (“A.F. Blakemore”) is committed to acting ethically and transparently in all business dealings. We take a zero-tolerance approach to modern slavery and human trafficking and ensure it does not occur in our business or supply chains.
Our Business
Founded in 1917, A.F. Blakemore is one of the largest family-owned businesses in the UK. We employ over 5,000 people and operate across retail, food solutions, and logistics. We are part of the SPAR UK group and work closely with associated buying groups to source products responsibly.
Our Supply Chains
Our suppliers provide products, raw materials, packaging, logistics, and other services. All suppliers must comply with relevant laws, follow our ethical standards, and support due diligence processes.
Aligned with SPAR UK:
- Suppliers of SPAR brand products must be members of Sedex to provide transparency and risk assessments.
- New suppliers of SPAR brand products are required to join Sedex and meet our contractual obligations on modern slavery.
- We expect each supplier to apply due diligence to the next link in the supply chain.
Policies and Training
We operate policies that support ethical practices, including a Whistleblowing Policy and the “Speak Up Now” portal, where employees can safely report concerns.
All staff will receive mandatory e-learning training on modern slavery in the next financial year. Leadership teams ensure compliance within their departments and maintain responsible supplier relationships.
Monitoring and Improvement
We measure effectiveness through supplier engagement, training completion, and reports raised via our whistleblowing system. We continuously review and improve our policies and practices to manage modern slavery risks.
Approval
This statement is made under section 54(1) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and reflects A.F. Blakemore & Son Ltd’s commitment to preventing modern slavery and human trafficking in all areas of our business and supply chains for the financial year ending 27 April 2025 and it has been approved by the Board of Directors.
Carol Welch
Chief Executive Officer
A.F. Blakemore & Son Ltd
Date: 06/11/2025