DUBLIN, Ohio – The Wendy’s Company announced it has expanded its supplier code of conduct to include all US and Canadian contracts managed by Quality Supply Chain Cooperative (QSCC) and suppliers that provide significant goods and services to Wendy’s annually. Also included in the new code are requirements for certain suppliers of whole, fresh produce, as well as future aspirations for continuous improvement.
“Since its founding in 1969 by Dave Thomas, Wendy’s has operated under a core set of values and is proud of long-standing, collaborative relationships with some of the food industry’s leading suppliers,” Todd Penegor, president and CEO of Wendy’s, said in a statement. “We expect all of our suppliers to comply with the law and use best practices in all aspects of their operations, and to conduct business in a way that is consistent with the values of Wendy’s and our franchisees. Further, it’s important to us to reaffirm our past commitments and aspire to even greater accomplishments in the areas of environmental and social responsibility.”
Wendy’s new code highlights important topics to its brand and customers, including food safety, ingredients, farm animal health and well-being, human rights and labor practices, environmentally sustainable business practices, and business ethics.
The US and Canadian contracts managed by QSSC will add approximately 100 suppliers.
Due to the nature of agricultural work and its workforce, the expanded code will require third-party reviews related to human rights and labor practices of all suppliers.
“At Wendy’s, we are committed to setting clear goals in the areas of social responsibility and communicating our progress against these goals,” said Liliana Esposito, chief communications officer for Wendy’s. “We will continue to promote and encourage our suppliers and partners to employ responsible business practices and work to bring greater transparency so that consumers can continue to trust Wendy’s and the values upon which this company was built.”
In the past few years Wendy’s has reported progress regarding corporate social responsibility in the quick-service restaurant industry.
In February, Wendy’s announced a $30 million investment to use 20 percent smaller birds. All suppliers already are raising birds to the new specification. The changes will be implemented across the entire US supply of Wendy’s premium chicken breasts through the second quarter of 2017.
Wendy’s made a commitment to remove antibiotics important to human medicine from its chicken supply by the end of 2017, while remaining committed to the necessary treatment of sick animals. The company is on target to announce specific additional commitments related to antibiotics for pork and beef in 2017.
