Importaco Group Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement
Organizational Structure, Business Activity and Supply Chain
Importaco Group is an international food corporate group specializing in the production of nuts and mineral water. It was founded in Spain in 1940 and is currently one of the largest producers of dried fruits and nuts in Europe and the second largest mineral water group in Spain.
The Spanish company Importaco Nuts, S.L. (unipersonal) is the holding company of nuts division, to which Besana UK Limited and V. Besana Spa belongs (among others), being located and trading the first one in the UK, and the second being located in Italy and mainly trading in the UK.
Our business is built around the purpose of improving people’s health and wellbeing, guaranteeing responsible production and consumption. Importaco Group, during its more than 80 years of history, has demonstrated its ability to adapt to the market, industry and consumers, which is reflected in its continued growth and its varied range of products and services. Quality, sustainability and innovation are the three fundamental pillars of its development, with a long-term vision.
Our activities in nuts division include the manufacture, production and distribution of nuts, snacks, chocolate-covered nuts, dried fruits and seeds. We currently operate in four different markets: the retail market in the Iberian Peninsula, the international retail market, the food service market and the ingredients market for the agri-food industry.
Our group, based in Valencia (Spain), has an extensive global presence. We have production centers in Spain (8), Italy (2), Poland (1), the United Kingdom (1) and Turkey (1), and purchasing offices in Argentina, the United States and China that cover the different nut and dried fruit growing areas.
Importaco Group works in partnership with suppliers, farmers and companies in the agri-food sector with the aim of supplying the most nutritious and safest food. Strategic and preferred suppliers account for approximately 80 % of the volume of raw materials, with whom long-term relationships are established to ensure food safety, quality and sustainability.
Core Commitment
At Importaco Group we maintain an unconditional commitment to the eradication of modern slavery and labor exploitation in all its forms, promoting a world in which all people experience freedom, dignity and a fair treatment.
This commitment extends throughout our supply chain and to any entity with which we do business.
Responsibility
The Board of Directors assumes overall and primary responsibility for the company's initiatives to combat modern slavery and to ensure that all persons under its jurisdiction comply fully with these initiatives.
Policy and Approach
We have corporate codes and policies that are mandatory for the entire Importaco Group and are related to human rights compliance and the fight against modern slavery.
The participants in the company life, both internal and external, as regards the behaviors to be adopted, have a clear reference in the adopted code of ethics, which prescribes the rules of conduct to be followed and sets out the ethical principles relevant also for the prevention of the crimes referred to in the Italian Legislative Decree 231/2001 (V. Besana S.p.a. has adopted the management and control organization model pursuant to that specific regulation) and in other applicable regulations.
Annually, we continuously review and develop our policies with input from internal experts, suppliers and external stakeholders. Besides, we have:
Due Diligence Processes and Risk Assessment
The identification of human rights and environmental risks is a fundamental part of the due diligence process. Importaco Group is committed to taking steps to proactively identify human rights and environmental risks arising from its own operations, subsidiaries, supply chain and established business relationships. In addition, we have a quality program at origin through which we collaborate with our suppliers to establish lines of work and common criteria based on quality, sustainability and food safety. This is carried out through the following two lines of work: auditing processes at origin and implementation of quality management systems in line with Importaco's culture of excellence.
To assess human rights and environmental risks, a risk assessment tool (Sedex Radar) is used, together with information from independent reports and audits, existing grievance mechanisms and consultation with potentially affected groups where deemed necessary, such as workers or farmers. This assessment allows us to identify and address possible cases of modern slavery.
Actions Taken:
Key performance indicators
Importaco Group uses the following key performance indicators to measure our effectiveness in ensuring that slavery and human trafficking does not take place anywhere in the company or supply chain.
Conclusion
Addressing modern slavery in our supply chain requires us to continuously monitor and review procedures to prevent new forms or incidences of exploitation. With this statement Importaco Group wants to demonstrate a positive and proactive commitment to work together with its stakeholders, with particular attention to employee and labor representatives to protect workers and prevent exploitation.
Signature
Importaco Nuts Company, S.L. Besana Uk Limited & V.Besana S.p.A
Eva María Pons Casañ Riccardo Calcagni
Company Legal Representative CEO
Date: 06/10/2023 Date: 06/10/2023
Contact Information:
If you have any queries or doubts about the published information, please contact us at:
Department of External Relations and CSR
Importaco Group Headquarters
Ctra. Real de Madrid, 81-89 46469
Beniparrell (Valencia, Spain)
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