Basic Approach
The Maruha Nichiro Group engages in the stable procurement of marine resources from Japan and around the world.
We also strive to build a safe and secure supply chain for livestock meat products and agricultural products.
We recognize that in order to achieve stable and sustainable management into the future, we must cooperate with our business partners and consider social dimensions such as environmental problems, human rights, and occupational safety within our supply chain. Accordingly, we are working to build a CSR-oriented supply chain.
Establishment of Maruha Nichiro Group Basic Procurement Policy / Supplier Guidelines
In FY2017, we established the Maruha Nichiro Group Basic Procurement Policy and Maruha Nichiro Group Supplier Guidelines following the Group Code of Conduct and the approaches of ISO 26000, an international standard for social responsibility, and the Ten Principles of the United Nations Global Compact.
We are also committed to fair competition and anti-corruption in overseas markets through our Declaration of Anti-corruption.
In July 2022, we revised the Supplier Guidelines to the second edition, adding a new requirement on matters concerning the elimination of IUU fishing and requesting suppliers to “confirm that there is no involvement in IUU fishing in the marine products they procure through thorough traceability.”
We make these policies/guidelines known to our business partners and monitor their compliance on a regular basis, and have prepared a guideline commentary in conjunction with the revision to the second edition.
We are promoting activities to strengthen our management system, such as encouraging improvement activities based on the explanatory notes, and to construct a supply chain that will carry out honest business activities together with our business partners.
Code of Conduct (PDF: 43 KB/1 page)
Basic Procurement Policy (PDF: 89 KB/1 page)
Maruha Nichiro Group Suppliers Guidelines, Second Edition (issued July 2022) (PDF: 254 KB/8 page)
Anti-corruption Declaration (PDF: 87 KB/1 page)
Medium-term Sustainability Management Plan (FY2018-2021)
Practice Sustainable Procurement
Targets: Maruha Nichiro Group (Japan and overseas)
Department in charge: Maruha Nichiro Corporation, Corporate Planning Department

Target | FY2021 | Medium-term Management Plan Self-Assessment | |
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Action Plan (Key measures) | Achievements | ||
Implement CSR-oriented supply chain management based on the Basic Policies of Procurement, Supplier Guidelines, and the Declaration of Anti-corruption |
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Management Structure
The Maruha Nichiro Group maintains a variety of businesses that cover a broad supply chain. The selection of procurement sources for raw materials, resources, and products for these business activities is carried out under the responsibility of each business division.
Therefore, supply chain management within the Maruha Nichiro Group is based on the Basic Policies of Procurement and Supplier Guidelines established in 2017, and the Procurement Department plays a central role in implementing CSR procurement through communication with business partners.
Main Initiatives in FY2021
Monitoring of Suppliers
Conducting Self-Assessment Questionnaires of Suppliers
In FY2020, Maruha Nichiro Corporation conducted supply chain surveys for our 1,097 supplier companies in Japan and overseas aimed at confirming compliance with our Supplier Guidelines.
As for our in-house certified plants, which are particularly important suppliers that manufacture Maruha Nichiro brand products, a total of 294 companies were targeted, and 293 companies (127 domestic certified plants and 166 overseas certified plants) responded to the survey, achieving a response rate of 99.7%.
In FY2021, we provided feedback of the survey results to suppliers, and in order to ensure the implementation of the "Supplier Guidelines," we prepared a commentary on the guidelines that indicated required standards, specific actions, etc., and distributed the commentary to suppliers.
Moreover, in order to conduct regular supplier surveys and ensure that the "Supplier Guidelines" are disseminated throughout the supply chain, we will introduce a system of supply chain management in FY2022 and plan to conduct the monitoring of our suppliers again.
Going forward, we will continue to strive to achieve fair business practices by communicating with our suppliers and cooperating with them to make improvements.
This will lead to further penetration of the "Supplier Guidelines" and partnership building based on mutual trust-building.

Number of Suppliers Surveyed in FY2020 | 1,097 companies |
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Target Suppliers | Number of Suppliers Surveyed in FY2020 |
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Domestic plants certified by Maruha Nichiro | 127 companies |
Overseas plants certified by Maruha Nichiro | 166 companies |
Suppliers of directly managed plants | 242 companies |
Other suppliers providing raw materials and other companies’ products | 562 companies |
Self-Assessment Questionnaires Conducted by Area

Conducting Surveys of Human Rights and Labor Practices in the Supply Chain
In FY2020, the Maruha Nichiro Corporation began conducting human rights and labor practice Self-Assessment Questionnaires with some of its business partners with the aim of identifying the risk of human rights violations in the supply chain.
In FY2021, we expanded the number of target business partners to 253 companies with in-house certified plants that manufacture Maruha Nichiro products, and conducted a Self-Assessment Questionnaire. As a result of these efforts, we recognized the existence of human rights violation risks, such as the lack of policies and standards regarding human rights and labor practices, a lack of understanding regarding the employment of migrant workers, and the absence of a labor union or equivalent organization to facilitate communication between companies and their employees.
Going forward, we will continue to periodically conduct the same Self-Assessment Questionnaires to ascertain the actual status of human rights and labor practices, and to promote awareness and thoroughness of the Maruha Nichiro Human Rights Policy, with the aim of realizing zero human rights violations in the supply chain.
Implementation Status of Surveys of Human Rights and Labor Practices in FY2020 and FY2021

Targeted Suppliers | FY2020 and FY2021 Suppliers Surveyed by Self-Assessment Questionnaires Surveyed |
Suppliers Determined by the Survey to Pose Risks (Reference Value) |
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Domestic plants certified by Maruha Nichiro | 126 companies | 81 companies |
Overseas plants certified by Maruha Nichiro | 168 companies | 53 companies |
Other raw material suppliers | 55 companies | 24 companies |
Total | 349 companies | 158 companies |
* For suppliers determined by the survey to pose risks, we are reviewing the possibility of verifying the detailed status through interviews.
Educating Suppliers through “Quality Assurance Meetings” for Partner Factories
At Maruha Nichiro Corporation, we hold “managers' meetings on quality assurance at subcontract factories” for management executives of major contract manufacturers in Japan who cooperate with us in the production of our products, with the aim of improving the quality assurance level by strengthening cooperation with our supply chain.
In FY2021, in addition to receiving reports on quality-related initiatives and the status of complaints and incidents, Maruha Nichiro Corporation held a presentation led by a representative from the Corporate Planning Department on CSR procurement and informed business partners of the "Basic Policies of Procurement" and "Supplier Guidelines," and requested suppliers' understanding of the Maruha Nichiro Group's policies/guidelines and their cooperation in building a CSR-conscious supply chain together.
We intend to continue holding this meeting in the future as an opportunity to educate and share information with partner factories, as well as gain their understanding of the Action Plan and strive for greater collaboration in the supply chain.
KGIs and KPIs from FY2022 to FY2030
In line with formulating the new Medium-term Management Strategy "For the Ocean, for Life MNV 2024,” we reevaluated the new nine important issues (materiality) on March 28, 2022 and formulated the Ideal State in 2030 (KGI) and Achievement Targets (KPI) in each materiality.
From FY2022, we will work on the targets we have formulated and aim to be Ideal State in 2030.
- Materiality
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Development of sustainable supply chain
- Ideal State in 2030 (KGI)
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Working with suppliers to build a sustainable procurement network
- Achievement Targets (KPI)
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Item Target value Target year System cover rate (MN*) 100% 2024 Rate of agreement with supplier guidelines and rate of critical item improvements (Overall Group) 100% 2030
- Main SDGs to which we contribute
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*MN = Maruha Nichiro Corporation