Bidcorp: a world class international foodservice presence.

Gender diversity

Workplace discrimination of any kind impacts productivity and disengages staff. Bidcorp is committed to creating a workplace environment that is equitable to all, offering equal opportunity to all. Female representation in senior staff grades can vary significantly across the group and development of women into senior positions remains a priority. In 2018, businesses in the UK and Australia conducted internal surveys to establish a baseline as a first step in achieving consistent improvement.

One point of focus was pay disparity. Encouragingly, the UK study showed that in several categories women received higher pay and bonuses than men while at some companies more women qualified for bonuses than men.

A top-down approach was adopted through the approval of the Bidcorp diversity policy, and is a standard we expect all in our group to embrace.

Listeriosis outbreak

South Africa experienced the world's worst ever listeriosis outbreak, reporting 183 deaths and more than a thousand confirmed infections.

Bidcorp responded immediately with a national recall of all potentially implicated products, in conjunction with the affected local suppliers. Utilising existing food safety management system procedures to effectively manage this crisis.

The team set-up a website communication portal and emailed customers updates to inform and educate them regarding the implications of the crisis. Through collaboration with industry specialists, academics and food safety service providers Bidfood SA facilitated "Food Safety and Listeriosis Update" seminars nationally in eight different locations.

These seminars were provided at no cost with the primary focus of educating the foodservice industry stakeholders on the correct information pertaining to this crisis. An understanding of the role players in the supply chain, critical in preventing the perpetration of food safety hazards in the kitchen environment was shared.

We remain vigilant in our efforts to ensure the highest standards of food safety are maintained, both in our own environments and those of our suppliers, customers and wider community.

Transformation

Bidcorp, as a JSE listed company, is committed to transformation and the building of a sustainable South African economy.

Though the board holds ultimate transformation responsibility, the social and ethics committee drives legislative compliance, implemented independently through each business in South Africa.

B-BBEE criteria are periodically adjusted, these revised codes make it imperative that work is stepped-up to achieve. The legislation aims to encourage economic transformation, the development of black-owned businesses, the employment of black people and the nurturing of a new wave of senior black executives.

In 2018, the board sent an unmistakable signal that diversity is a strategic imperative through the roll out of a board policy on the promotion of gender and race diversity. Within it, the policy states “preferred consideration” shall be given to black and/or female directors when places on the board are filled, giving due regard to skills and experience.

Revised codes give strong weighting to black supplier development through preferential procurement. People development is supported by substantial training investment and in 2018 a growing number of black employee candidates were prepared for higher responsibility. These initiatives have significantly contributed to our succession planning efforts and material improvements in the workforce diversity.

Socio-economic development remain an area that the businesses score maximum points, with their efforts in these areas far exceeding the expectations of the B-BBEE scorecard.

In 2018, our sustained transformational efforts have been recognised in the material improvements of the revised ratings.

BF has maintained a level 4 rating, through continued succession planning efforts, coupled with extensive skills development activities. The preferential procurement score remains the biggest challenge. Great gains were recorded in the B-BBEE levels of some key suppliers, largely eroded however by negative movement on other supplier scorecards.

CFG is pleased with the improved level 6 rating, reflective of the exceptional efforts invested. CFG has more than doubled its score on management and control, as well as achieving in the skills development rating. CFG’s ESD score has markedly improved, resulting in the much-improved overall rating.

Following the Puratos JV, CP has moved to a December financial year-end, realigning the rating period accordingly. The 2018 rating will follow post year-end.

Bidcorp group has achieved an improved level 4 rating. This is largely due to CFG’s material score improvements, drawing the consolidated rating up.

Bidcorp’s goal remains the implementation of long-term programmes and commercially impactful solutions beneficial to our stakeholders, and well-positioned for continued business growth.