At Sainsbury’s, our purpose is simple yet powerful: to make good food joyful, accessible and affordable for everyone, every day. But delivering on that promise means more than what’s on the shelves. It’s about ensuring the people behind our products are treated fairly and with dignity.
That’s why we’re proud to have been named as the highest scoring company in CCLA’s 2025 Modern Slavery Benchmark, recognising us as a leader in human rights. The CCLA Benchmark assesses the largest UK companies on the steps they are taking to eradicate modern slavery in their operations and supply chains, so Sainsbury's achievement in 2025’s edition reflects years of dedicated work to protect workers across our supply chains and to drive meaningful change where it matters most.
Modern slavery is one of the most pressing human rights issues of our time. It’s hidden, complex and affects millions globally. As a retailer with extensive supply chains, we know we have a responsibility to act. We’re working hard to make a difference with:
- Robust policies and transparency
We publish detailed modern slavery statements and risk assessments, ensuring transparency and accountability across our operations. - Supplier engagement and training
We work closely with suppliers to strengthen ethical practices, providing training and resources to help them spot and prevent exploitation. - Collaborative partnerships
Tackling modern slavery requires collective action. We partner with organisations like Unseen, Stronger Together and the Ethical Trading Initiative to share best practice and drive systemic change. - Continuous improvement
From undertaking due diligence in high-risk sectors to supporting worker voice initiatives, we’re committed to evolving our approach as challenges change.
Commenting on Sainsbury’s top position in this year’s CCLA Modern Slavery Benchmark, Ruth Cranston, Director of Sustainability said:
Ruth Cranston“We can only live up to our commitment to make good food joyful, accessible and affordable for everyone, every day if the people in our business and supply chains are treated with dignity and respect. We're proud of the progress we're making in addressing modern slavery risks and upholding human rights, and are pleased to see this recognised by the CCLA in their latest benchmark. We're committed to continuing to work with our suppliers and partners to tackle these challenges, while supporting legislation that protects the workers and communities linked to our supply chains, helping us to secure a resilient and sustainable food system for generations to come.”
Director of Sustainability at Sainsbury’s
We are proud of the progress we have made, but we know more must be done. That’s why we continue to push for progress because everyone deserves to work in conditions that are safe, fair and free from exploitation.
Guided by our purpose – to make good food joyful, affordable and accessible for everyone, everyday – we are stepping up to support everyone across our supply chain and working in collaboration with others across the industry to tackle the challenges faced so that we can build more resilient livelihoods and communities for the long-term.
Interested in our work on human rights?
