Shoprite Holdings

Stakeholder engagement
Shoprite Holdings outlines its identification and prioritisation process for engaging with stakeholders. The company provides an overview matrix which outlines how it engages with these groups, how concerns are aligned with the company’s material issues and how it responds to these through its sustainability strategy. The topics raised by stakeholders covers all three benchmark dimensions.

No leading practices were identified for the company in the environment measurement area.

No leading practices were identified for the company in the nutrition measurement area.

No leading practices were identified for the company in the social inclusion measurement area.

Sustainable development strategy
Shoprite Holdings discloses its process for identifying and prioritising its most relevant sustainability topics, as well the outcome of this process in relation to its sustainability strategy However, the company has yet to set targets for all of its key topics. The company could improve by setting targets for all three benchmark measurement areas in relation to both its own operations and its value chain.

Governance and accountability for sustainable development
Shoprite Holdings reports that its deputy CEO and the Social and Ethics Committee oversee its environmental and social sustainability activities. The company also provides an overview of its decision-making process and oversight responsibilities regarding sustainability. However, the company could provide further information on the governance body’s remuneration policy in relation to meeting sustainability targets.

Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions
Shoprite Holdings reports on its annual scope 1 and 2 emissions, which shows an increase from 2019 to 2020. Therefore, going forward, the company could improve by setting a reduction target for its greenhouse gas emissions and report the progress against it.

Protection of terrestrial natural ecosystems
While the company has commitments to deforestation and conversion-free (DCF) supply chains certification programmes, including RSPO (for palm oil) and UTZ (for cocoa) it has an opportunity to strengthen its commitment by setting targets for achieving DCF supply chains for its relevant high-risk commodities as well as by disclosing the proportion of its relevant high-risk commodities which are currently DCF.

Food loss and waste
Shoprite Holdings is committed to addressing food loss and waste across our value chain. It aims to halve food waste at the retail and consumer levels and reduce food losses along the food chain by 2030 compared to 2019. However, no reporting against the target was found in the public domain, presenting an opportunity for the company going forward.

Availability of healthy foods
Shoprite Holdings discloses that it has product ranges “Simple Truth” and “Oh My Goodness” which offer healthier meals and snacks with reduced sugar and salt content. However, the company does not disclose other evidence on improving availability of healthy foods, such as an increase in fruits and vegetables or whole grains. The company could further improve by providing quantitative evidence to support this topic in future reporting.

Accessibility and affordability of healthy foods
While the company has a commitment to address food insecurity by improving the accessibility and affordability of healthy foods, it has an opportunity to develop commercial activities designed to make healthy foods more accessible and affordable for vulnerable groups.

Responsible marketing
The company does not disclose a responsible marketing policy, nor guidelines specific to marketing to children.

Child labour
Shoprite Holdings does not disclose a commitment to prohibit child labour in its operations and supply chain.

Living wage
Shoprite Holdings does not disclose that it pays its workers a living wage or requires its suppliers to do the same. Neither has it set targets to do so in the future.

Farmer and fisher productivity and resilience
Shoprite Holdings discloses a commitment to supporting farmers and small scale producers to enter the retail market. The company shares some evidences on activities such as training and partnership with farmers on improving the productivity and access to markets. However, the company could measure and disclose the outcomes and impact of a proportion of its support activities to improve further.

Although Shoprite Holdings provides grievance mechanisms for workers, the company does not disclose a publicly available commitment on all other topics related to respect for human rights. This includes an absence of evidence of a human rights due diligence process. As such, Shoprite Holdings does not demonstrate it has in place the necessary policies and systems to protect basic human rights in its operations and supply chain.

No evidence of policies or commitments related to decent work were found in the public domain. As such, Shoprite Holdings does not demonstrate that it provides secure, safe and healthy workplaces, where workers are fairly renumerated and have a meaningful say in decision making.

Shoprite Holdings provides commitment to protect personal data. However no evidence of policy or commitment were found regarding responsible tax and anti-bribery and anti-corruption. In addition, the company does not disclose relevant information regarding responsible lobbying and political engagement.