This statement describes the steps Thatchers Cider has taken to prevent modern slavery in its business and supply chains for the financial calendar year ending 31st August 2025 and the actions planned for the financial calendar year ending 31^st August 2026, 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, updated the data on its systems, which has increased its “live” approved suppliers to 806 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. We have 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 suppliers 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 suppliers 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 and 2025 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 Ciders new suppliers; requested modern slavery statements for all suppliers over an annual turnover of 36million and requested written confirmation for any supplier under that they have read and abide by Thatchers Cider modern slavery statement; chased and filed responses; checked all responses for suitability and escalated all those which failed to respond.
• 31 employees across Customer Service, Supply Chain, Marketing, Quality, Production, Engineering, Quality Dispense and Finance that may encounter with 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 30-minute module shares examples of Modern Slavery finishing with a test. Additional resource links relating to Modern slavery are provided for further awareness.
• Worked with Unseen to build and implement a modern slavery escalation and remediation process. This process supports Thatchers Cider in correctly identifying, escalating and managing reports of modern slavery. Unseen have ensured this is in line with standards set out in the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and the OECD’s Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Business Conduct.
• Staff members from a range of teams, including, Supply Chain, Operations, and Customer Service attended a bespoke workshop delivered by Unseen that mapped the current modern slavery statement against the standards set out in the UK Government’s Transparency in Supply Chains guidance. The workshop highlighted specific priorities and areas of focus. This work will be used to build a roadmap for future progression and continuous improvement.
• Developing the onboarding process to better gather information on suppliers in order to assess their modern slavery risks.
• Reviewed Thatchers Cider Recruitment Policy and Code of Conduct.

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 conducted by Thatchers Cider upon arrival at site. Thatchers Cider would always treat agency workers equally to other members of staff.

Actions for the Year

During 2025-2026, Thatchers Cider goals and key performance indicators regarding Modern Slavery are;

• Review Thatchers Cider Supplier Audit Assessment form to include questions in relation to Modern Slavery.
• Continue checking all of Thatchers Ciders new suppliers are in compliance with the Modern Slavery Act 2015, by requesting modern slavery statements for all suppliers over an annual turnover of 36million and requesting written confirmation for any supplier under that they have read and abide by Thatchers Cider modern slavery statement.
• Further online modern slavery training using the IHASCO platform for employees that may encounter modern slavery.
• Further improvements to the onboarding process that gathers modern slavery information on suppliers.
• Refresher training with Unseen for the Thatchers Cider team.

Board Approval

This statement was approved by the Boards of Directors of Thatchers Cider Company Limited on 19/08/2025.

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.