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Associated British Foods (ABF) is a British multinational food ingredients and retailing group operating in 52 countries around the world. The company employs over 133,000 people across its operations and has more than 380 Primark stores, its only apparel brand. In 2020, the company had US$17.8 billion in revenue.
Summary
Associated British Foods (ABF), assessed based on its retail group Primark, ranks 16th in this year’s Gender Benchmark with a score of 36.1 out of 100. It displays leading practice across 9 out of 34 indicators and is ahead of industry peers on representation and governance and strategy. However, the company lags behind on health and well-being and compensation and benefits.
ABF displays strong performance on gender-responsive procurement, through its actions to support women-owned businesses in the Primark Sustainable Cotton Programme which provides training in sustainable farming methods to women farmers and then sources cotton from them. The company also has a gender-responsive human rights due diligence process and has identified two gender-related human rights risks within its supply chain as salient, namely the increased risks of modern slavery the women face and the poor recruitment, hiring and working practices among women in mills in India.
However, there is no evidence the company covers the costs for its employees regarding maternal, sexual and reproductive, or mental health information and services. Moreover, it does not require suppliers to address the specific health, safety and hygiene needs of women workers or have an on-site health clinic with credentialed providers. As for compensation and benefits, ABF fails to disclose its global gender pay gap . It also does not provide its employees with at least 14 weeks paid primary carer leave, as recommended by the ILO, childcare or other family support to support their unpaid care burden.
See detailed assessment
Ranking position
#16
/35
Total score
36.1
/100
Measurement area
Score
Rank (0-35)
Measurement area
Governance and strategy
Score
9.0
/20
Rank (0-35)
#11
Measurement area
Representation
Score
7.1
/17.5
Rank (0-35)
#7
Measurement area
Compensation and benefits
Score
4.0
/17.5
Rank (0-35)
#12
Measurement area
Health and well-being
Score
4.4
/17.5
Rank (0-35)
#16
Measurement area
Violence and harassment
Score
6.6
/17.5
Rank (0-35)
#16
Measurement area
Marketplace
Score
0.0
/5
Rank (0-35)
#19
Measurement area
Community
Score
5.0
/5
Rank (0-35)
#1
Total score
Score
36.1
/100
Rank (0-35):
#16
Value chain element
Score
Value chain element
Workplace
Score
7.4
/41
Value chain element
Supply chain
Score
20.7
/41
More about the company
Headquarters
London, United Kingdom
Revenue
US$17.8 billion (2020)
Total number of employees
133,000
Ownership structure
Publicly listed
Website
https://www.abf.co.uk/
17993