Introduction

This statement describes the steps Thatchers Cider has taken to prevent modern slavery in its business and supply chains for the calendar year ending 31st December 2024 and the actions planned for the calendar year ending 31^st December 2025, published in accordance with the Modern Slavery Act 2015.

www.thatcherscider.co.uk/legal/modern-slavery/

Business Structure

This modern slavery statement covers Thatchers (Myrtle Farm) Limited, and the following companies for which Thatchers (Myrtle Farm) Limited is the ultimate parent company: Thatchers Holdings Limited (Property), John Thatcher Farming Limited (Orchards), Thatchers Railway Inn Limited (Public House), and Thatchers Cider Company Limited (Manufacturing). When we refer to ‘Thatchers Cider’ in this statement it covers all of those companies unless stated otherwise.

Thatchers Cider was established in 1904 by William Thatcher. Martin Thatcher, our current Managing Director is a fourth-generation cider maker who has continued to successfully grow the business year on year, from a local farmhouse cidermaker to a national supplier, employing approximately 250 people. Our roots are firmly placed in heritage, family values and sustainability along with craft, expertise, and a passion for quality. We still make all of our cider at the original Myrtle Farm in Sandford, Somerset, UK. Thatchers Cider has a board of executive and non-executive Directors, a senior management team, supervisors, and operational employees. Thatchers Cider has a modern slavery working group who regularly catch up to review outstanding actions and future aims e.g. updating the annual statement and strengthening strategy. The working group is made up with representatives from across the business that include the Operations Director, Customer Service Team Leader, Quality Technician, Operations Assistant and Supply Chain Administrator.

Supply Chains, Risk Assessment and Risk Management

Thatchers Cider has assessed its supplier list over the past year and updated the data on its systems, which has increased its “live” approved suppliers to 768, who supply apples, raw materials, packaging and services predominantly from the United Kingdom however certain supplies come in from further abroad that would include Switzerland, Belgium and the Netherlands. Thatchers Cider is aware that it operates within the modern slavery higher-risk sectors of agriculture and manufacturing. Thatchers Cider has worked with Unseen, who conducted a risk assessment looking into supplier location and sectors to identify any potential high-risk suppliers.

All suppliers that are legally required to publish an annual modern slavery statement are asked to provide the details of their compliance with the Modern Slavery Act 2015, the country of origin of their goods and services, copies of their relevant policies and procedures, and advise of any incidences of modern slavery that have occurred in their business or supply chain along with the remedial steps taken in these cases.

Any suppliers that are not legally required to have a modern slavery statement and therefore do not have their own appropriate policies are required to read this statement and provide written confirmation that they adhere to the Modern Slavery Act 2015.

Thatchers Cider compiles its supplier’s responses onto its own systems and identifies any suppliers that have not provided the requested information, allowing further assessment. This would include a selection of follow up emails and phone calls to our supplier’s contact points, followed by an escalation process through trained managers in Modern Slavery, with the ultimate consequence resulting in a termination of supply.

If a Thatchers Cider employee suspects any supplier of being involved in modern slavery, they will raise the issue either directly with the relevant Manager or by following the Thatchers Cider Whistleblowing policy. Grievance mechanisms are also available for employees. This gives an individual a number of routes to report any concerns which includes an anonymous direct link via email to a third-party HR provider. Thatchers Cider Whistleblowing Policy is published as part of the Team Handbook on the company intranet. Details of how to access the Handbook is given out to all staff members as part of their induction. Thatchers Cider will treat all such disclosures in a confidential and sensitive manner and will respect the wishes of any individual who raises concerns but wishes to remain anonymous. This will then be reported to the relevant Director, either in writing or in person. The Director will then investigate and communicate their findings to the wider Board of Directors. If those investigations confirm a breach of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 or identify reasonable suspicions that the supplier has not satisfactorily addressed, then Thatchers Cider will make the appropriate notifications to the relevant authorities and Unseen who will advise on the appropriate action to take with the supplier, which is proportionate and adapted to the consequences of the case. Thatchers Cider recognises that instigating and insisting on the implementation of a modern slavery remediation plan with the supplier rather than immediately terminating the relationship may cause less vulnerability and risk for victims.

Due Diligence Processes

In addition to the above, Thatchers Cider due diligence includes:

• An approval process for new suppliers who are supplying raw materials, processing aids and packaging materials. As part of this process, an in-depth quality assurance (QA) questionnaire is sent to each supplier, with 6 of the questions specific to modern slavery, ethical trading and auditing procedures. Within the QA questionnaire, it is requested to provide evidence of answers provided by suppliers. This includes up to date copies of any Ethical Trading, Modern Slavery and Associated Policies, SEDEX membership details and auditing procedures.
• Policies and procedures to allow concerns to be submitted to a Director of the company.
• Thatchers Cider monitors and reviews the good practice guidance published by the UK government in managing modern slavery risks (‘Transparency in Supply Chains: a practical Guide’).

Action Taken in the Past Year

Thatchers Cider have continued their partnership throughout 2024 with the charity “Unseen” (registered charity number 1127620), who provide guidance on tackling modern slavery in supply chains and monitoring for potential issues.

• The modern slavery working group have contacted all of Thatchers Cider new suppliers. Any supplier with an annual turnover over £36 million, is requested to provide evidence of their modern slavery statement. Any supplier with an annual turnover under £36 million, is requested to provide written confirmation that they have read and abide by Thatchers Cider modern slavery statement. Responses are checked for suitability and either filed or escalated if found to be unsuitable.
• 30 employees across Customer Service, Supply Chain, Marketing, Quality and Finance that may encounter modern slavery, are up to date with their mandatory online modern slavery training using the IHASCO platform.
• The IHASCO external company monitors and updates the information on training modules accordingly. The current 30-minute module shares examples of Modern Slavery, finishing with a test. Additional resource links relating to Modern slavery are provided for further awareness.
• Working with Unseen and started to develop an escalation and remediation process which will investigate Thatchers Cider process in a situation where Modern Slavery is identified.
• Completed a supplier risk assessment during 2024 with Unseen that identified any potential high-risk suppliers. The working group engaged with the high-risk suppliers who were non-compliant with the Modern Slavery Act 2015. 5 instances of non-compliance have now been resolved. The results of the assessment continue to inform Thatchers Cider Supply Chain risk awareness and Supply Chain due diligence.
• 21 employees consisting of Team Leaders, Supervisors and Managers attended a new focussed training via Unseen, around procurement which is in line with legislative changes.
• Thatchers Cider Modern Slavery working group have updated the company vendor form to include details regarding Modern Slavery compliance.
• Developing the onboarding process to better gather information on suppliers, in order to assess their modern slavery risks.

Thatchers Cider acknowledges that recruitment is an area where modern slavey has a higher risk. Along with the outlined due diligence processes, Thatchers Cider do not currently use agency workers and employ all workers directly. If ever there was a reason for employing emergency agency workers, such as sickness cover, then Thatchers Cider would audit the employment agency and ensure a service level agreement was put in place, to include vigilant checks around rights to work. Identification checks of any agency workers would also be carried out by Thatchers Cider upon arrival at site. Thatchers Cider would always treat agency workers equally to other members of staff.

Actions for 2025

During 2025, Thatchers Cider goals and key performance indicators regarding Modern Slavery are:

• To continue working with Unseen to develop an escalation and remediation process which will investigate Thatchers Cider processes, in a situation where modern slavery is identified within its supply chain.
• Continue checking that all of Thatchers Ciders new suppliers are in compliance with the Modern Slavery Act 2015, by requesting modern slavery statements for all suppliers with an annual turnover that is over £36 million and requesting written confirmation from any supplier that has an annual turnover of under £36 million, that they have read and will abide by Thatchers Cider modern slavery statement.
• Further online modern slavery training using the IHASCO platform for 13 employees that may encounter modern slavery.
• Further improvements to the onboarding process that gathers modern slavery information on suppliers.

Board Approval

This statement was approved by the Boards of Directors of Thatchers Cider Company Limited on 25/02/2025.

Thatchers Ciders nominated individual, Gary Delafield, Operations Director for Thatchers Cider Company Limited, authorised by their board resolutions to sign this statement on behalf of Thatchers Myrtle Farm Limited, Thatchers Holdings Limited, John Thatcher Farming Limited and Thatchers Railway Inn Limited.