// Boohoo cuts ties with over 100 suppliers, now only works with an approved list of 78
// It comes 6 months after the firm accepted all the recommendations of an independent review led by senior lawyer Allison Levitt
// Cutting ties with suppliers was one of the recommendations for Boohoo to meet transparency commitments
Boohoo Group has severed ties with over a 100 garment factories after a sweeping review of its supply chain in the UK.
In its second Sir Brian Leveson-led report investigating its supply chain, the retail giant published a list of 78 approved manufacturers operating across 100 sites in the UK, meeting a commitment for increased transparency.
This is down from an estimated 200 main manufacturers.
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Boohoo Group, which owns a raft of online retailers like PrettyLittleThing, Karen Millen, Oasis and now Debenhams, initially launched its investigation after it became embroiled in controversy surrounding modern slavery allegations and poor working conditions among its third party suppliers.
The latest report in the investigation comes six months after the retailer accepted all the recommendations of an independent review led by senior lawyer Allison Levitt, which found major failings in its supply chain in England.
It also marks the first time the fast fashion giant has published a full list of suppliers since the controversy, and was one of Levitt’s core recommendations.
Last September Boohoo set out steps to tackle the problems.
The following November, it appointed Leveson to independently oversee its “Agenda for Change” programme, which implements the recommendations of Levitt’s report.
Boohoo said the list was the result of work carried out through the programme, to map and audit its manufacturers and introduce changes to the way the business works with its suppliers.
Boohoo responsible sourcing director Andrew Reaney also worked with independent auditors Verisio and Bureau Veritas to examine the working practices of suppliers, the majority of which have been audited twice in the last eight months, including at evenings and at weekends.
Boohoo said Leveson also commissioned Tim Godwin, a former senior police officer, to carry out additional forensic-level enquiries to identify and address any irregularities in the leadership and management of suppliers.
Boohoo said it has ceased doing business with the manufacturers that were unable to demonstrate the required standard of transparency.
“This is the not the end of a project for us at Boohoo but the beginning of a new way of working with our suppliers,” chief executive John Lyttle said.
“We have faced up to the problems of the past and are now driving positive change in the industry.”
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