Modern Slavery Statement
This statement applies to Fiddes Payne Ltd (referred to in this statement as ‘the Company’).
Company structure
The Company operates from a single site location in Thorpe Way, Banbury, Oxfordshire OX16 4SP. The Company operates from Units 3 and 4. All employees are based at this location.
The Company is managed by a team of four Functional Heads reporting to the CEO. The CEO is accountable to the Board of Directors, who provide governance and overall control of the Company and are also the owners of the business. The Company operates an annual turnover of £10.2m.
The main activity carried out by the Company is an ambient food business operating across ambient Home Baking and Savoury cooking aids & ready to eat meal solution categories including branded, licensed and own label products.
The Company packages a range of ambient food products on site and outsources the production and packaging of further ranges to food production Companies in the UK and Europe.
Demand for our products is marginally seasonal, so that there is a slightly higher demand at various times of the year, particularly prior to Christmas.
The Company’s workforce are all based in the UK although some employees travel overseas in order to perform their duties.
Definitions
The Company considers that modern slavery encompasses:
Commitment
The Company acknowledges its responsibilities in relation to tackling modern slavery and commits to complying with the provisions in the Modern Slavery Act 2015. The Company understands that this requires an ongoing review of both its internal practices in relation to its labour force and, additionally, its supply chains.
The Company does not enter into business with any other Company, 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 Company in the pursuance of the provision of its own services is obtained by means of slavery or human trafficking. The Company strictly adheres to the minimum standards required in relation to its responsibilities under relevant employment legislation.
The Company expects all persons working for us or on behalf of us in any capacity including employees at all levels, including directors, managers, staff, agency workers and contractors to make themselves aware of this policy and comply with it. Managers are responsible for ensuring all members of their team have this awareness and understanding.
Any concerns or suspected conflict with this policy which has occurred or anticipated may occur in the future must be raised with a member of the Senior Leadership Team immediately.
Any employee who breaches this policy will be dealt with through the disciplinary procedure and could result in disciplinary action being taken against them including dismissal for gross misconduct.
Supply chains
In order to fulfil its activities, the main supply chains of the Company include importing finished goods (RTE pouches, grind mills containing spices and seasonings, marshmallows, royal icing decorations) from France, India, Turkey and Thailand.
On site activities at the Company include: The mixing and packing of dry cake mixes, icing sugar, sugar-based cake decorations, frostings, flavoured sugars, spice seasonings and seasonal stuffing mixes packed in formats including clear VFFS sachets, PET sprinkle pots, lidded tins and pouches, the assembly and packing of home-baking cupcake kits (sachets in cartons) and the trading of 2-D and 3-D handmade royal icing decorations, ready-to-eat pulse and grain products, grinding mill condiments and pink and white marshmallows.
We sell directly to retailers as well as distributers and agents.
We trade with EU countries and non-EU countries.
Potential exposure
The Company considers its main exposure to the risk of slavery and human trafficking to exist in its food production suppliers in Thailand, Philippines, China, India and potentially Turkey because they involve the provision of labour in a country where protection against breaches of human rights may be limited.
In general, the Company 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 Company that supplies goods and services to it.
Steps taken to mitigate exposure
The Company carries out due diligence processes in relation to ensuring slavery and/or human trafficking does not take place in its Company or supply chains, including conducting a review of the controls of its suppliers.
The Company has not, to its knowledge, conducted any business with another Company which has been found to have involved itself with modern slavery.
In accordance with section 54(4) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015, the Company has taken the following steps to ensure that modern slavery is not taking place:
Policies
The Company also has in place the following policies which further support its stance on modern slavery:
Business Ethics Policy; Anti-Slavery and Human Trafficking Policy; Corporate Social Responsibility Policy; Supplier Code of Conduct; Recruitment Policy.
This statement is made in pursuance of Section 54(1) of the Modern Slavery Act 2010 and will be reviewed for each financial year.
This statement applies to Fiddes Payne Ltd (referred to in this statement as ‘the Company’).
Company structure
The Company operates from a single site location in Thorpe Way, Banbury, Oxfordshire OX16 4SP. The Company operates from Units 3 and 4. All employees are based at this location.
The Company is managed by a team of four Functional Heads reporting to the CEO. The CEO is accountable to the Board of Directors, who provide governance and overall control of the Company and are also the owners of the business. The Company operates an annual turnover of £10.2m.
The main activity carried out by the Company is an ambient food business operating across ambient Home Baking and Savoury cooking aids & ready to eat meal solution categories including branded, licensed and own label products.
The Company packages a range of ambient food products on site and outsources the production and packaging of further ranges to food production Companies in the UK and Europe.
Demand for our products is marginally seasonal, so that there is a slightly higher demand at various times of the year, particularly prior to Christmas.
The Company’s workforce are all based in the UK although some employees travel overseas in order to perform their duties.
Definitions
The Company 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 Company acknowledges its responsibilities in relation to tackling modern slavery and commits to complying with the provisions in the Modern Slavery Act 2015. The Company understands that this requires an ongoing review of both its internal practices in relation to its labour force and, additionally, its supply chains.
The Company does not enter into business with any other Company, 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 Company in the pursuance of the provision of its own services is obtained by means of slavery or human trafficking. The Company strictly adheres to the minimum standards required in relation to its responsibilities under relevant employment legislation.
The Company expects all persons working for us or on behalf of us in any capacity including employees at all levels, including directors, managers, staff, agency workers and contractors to make themselves aware of this policy and comply with it. Managers are responsible for ensuring all members of their team have this awareness and understanding.
Any concerns or suspected conflict with this policy which has occurred or anticipated may occur in the future must be raised with a member of the Senior Leadership Team immediately.
Any employee who breaches this policy will be dealt with through the disciplinary procedure and could result in disciplinary action being taken against them including dismissal for gross misconduct.
Supply chains
In order to fulfil its activities, the main supply chains of the Company include importing finished goods (RTE pouches, grind mills containing spices and seasonings, marshmallows, royal icing decorations) from France, India, Turkey and Thailand.
On site activities at the Company include: The mixing and packing of dry cake mixes, icing sugar, sugar-based cake decorations, frostings, flavoured sugars, spice seasonings and seasonal stuffing mixes packed in formats including clear VFFS sachets, PET sprinkle pots, lidded tins and pouches, the assembly and packing of home-baking cupcake kits (sachets in cartons) and the trading of 2-D and 3-D handmade royal icing decorations, ready-to-eat pulse and grain products, grinding mill condiments and pink and white marshmallows.
We sell directly to retailers as well as distributers and agents.
We trade with EU countries and non-EU countries.
Potential exposure
The Company considers its main exposure to the risk of slavery and human trafficking to exist in its food production suppliers in Thailand, Philippines, China, India and potentially Turkey because they involve the provision of labour in a country where protection against breaches of human rights may be limited.
In general, the Company 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 Company that supplies goods and services to it.
Steps taken to mitigate exposure
The Company carries out due diligence processes in relation to ensuring slavery and/or human trafficking does not take place in its Company or supply chains, including conducting a review of the controls of its suppliers.
The Company has not, to its knowledge, conducted any business with another Company which has been found to have involved itself with modern slavery.
In accordance with section 54(4) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015, the Company has taken the following steps to ensure that modern slavery is not taking place:
- All staff are made aware of the need for diligence, provided guidance through our anti-slavery and human trafficking policy and reminded by ETI base code posters in the canteen.
- We ensure that our suppliers achieve and maintain accreditation of the Global Food Safety Initiative – GFSI.
- We comply with the standards set out by the bodies affiliated to GFSI, such as BRC, all of whom have an element of social compliance contained within their audit.
- Suppliers are asked to provide us with a copy of their business ethics policy, and we endeavour to ensure we receive these.
Policies
The Company also has in place the following policies which further support its stance on modern slavery:
Business Ethics Policy; Anti-Slavery and Human Trafficking Policy; Corporate Social Responsibility Policy; Supplier Code of Conduct; Recruitment Policy.
This statement is made in pursuance of Section 54(1) of the Modern Slavery Act 2010 and will be reviewed for each financial year.
