// Boohoo Group publishes a list of 1,100 factories it uses following its pledge to be more transparent about its supply chain
// Boohoo says it has achieved 28 of 34 recommendations by the inquiry led by Sir Brian Leveson
Boohoo has published a 1,100-strong list of its international suppliers as part of a drive to be more transparent in the wake of an independent review.
Leveson, who led the inquiry into press intrusion, was hired by Boohoo last year to oversee an overhaul of its supply chain after allegations of poor working practices and the group promised to make public its suppliers within 12 months of the review.
The international factory list details around 1,100 factories following an “extensive period” of mapping and auditing which initially began in 2020.
READ MORE: Asos investor becomes major shareholder in Boohoo
The move comes after the retailer published the names of its 78 UK suppliers in March this year.
Boohoo says it has achieved 28 of 34 recommendations by the independent review, which are governed by KPMG. The remainder are said to be completed in the next few months.
The 17 recommendations were broken down into 34 “deliverables” as part of the Agenda for Change.
The group’s Agenda for Change programme is being overseen by Sir Brian Leveson, whose fourth report has also been published today.
Leveson’s comments include: “To such extent as Boohoo can seek to address and resolve these issues, aimed at assisting the workforce of their suppliers, they are making very real effort to do as much as possible.
“In some cases, it is clear that this work is beyond what could be considered as reasonably to have been expected of them: a number of proposals and actions go beyond that which were recommended in the Review.
“In the ultimate, however, the challenge in relation to the development and enforcement of ethical trading is not one that Boohoo faces or can face alone and changes to the way in which the regulatory regime is enforced will be essential. I do not seek to minimise the responsibility of the Group or the impact that boohoo can have but it is abundantly clear that the issues are far wider than any one retailer.”
The retailer will also publish half-year results expected to show that sales are strong within its brands which now include Karen Millen, Coast, Oasis, Warehouse, Dorothy Perkins, Wallis, Burton and Debenhams.
Click here to sign up to Retail Gazette’s free daily email newsletter
