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.
Maruha Nichiro Group Procurement Basic Policy / Establishment of Supplier Guidelines / Maruha Nichiro Group Policy on Animal Welfare
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 2022, we revised our supplier guidelines to the second edition, adding items related to the elimination of IUU fishing to the requirements, and asking suppliers to "ensure that the seafood they procure is not involved in IUU fishing through thorough traceability." In addition, we aim to establish traceability in September 2024 and confirm that it is not involved in IUU fishing or human rights violations. We have published the "Maruha Nichiro Group Seafood Procurement Policy".
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 pages)
Anti-corruption Declaration (PDF: 87 KB/1 page)
Maruha Nichiro Group Policy on Animal Welfare
Management Structure
The Maruha Nichiro Group has various businesses and its supply chain spans a wide range of fields. Suppliers of food raw materials, products, and materials through our business activities are selected based on our Basic Procurement Policy, and each business unit is responsible for implementing CSR procurement through communication with suppliers based on our Supplier Guidelines. In addition, we consider the response to IUU fishing and the depletion of marine resources to be an important issue that the Maruha Nichiro Group must actively address, and in September 2024, we newly formulated and began operating a procurement policy specifically for marine products (Maruha Nichiro Group Marine Products Procurement Policy). In addition to the existing basic procurement policy, we will work to create environmental and social value at a higher level. Goal setting and activity evaluation are conducted by the Sustainability Promotion Committee.
2030 Vision (KGI) and Achievement Goals (KPIs)
The progress of KPIs up to the previous medium-term management plan is as follows. Although we achieved 100% system coverage for food suppliers and were generally doing well, we faced new challenges in establishing methods for confirming procured seafood that are not derived from IUU fisheries, and we reviewed KPIs in the new medium-term management plan.
Results of the Previous Medium-Term Management Plan (FY2022–2024)
Materiality: Development of a sustainable supply chain
KGI (the figure which wants to have 2030): Working with suppliers to build a sustainable procurement network
Responsibility Department: Maruha Nichiro Sustainability Department (former Corporate Planning Department sustainability group)
| KPI | Target | Self-evaluation and problem of the prometaphase management plan | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The aim year | Target value | Progress result comment | Self-evaluation | |
| System Coverage (MN*) | 2024 | 100% | 100% system coverage (MN*) for food suppliers | ★★★☆☆ |
| Rate of agreement with supplier guidelines and rate of improvement in key items (Overall G) | 2030 | 100% | Supplier Guidelines Agreement Rate 83.1% (MN*) | ★★★☆☆ |
★★★★★ : KPI for FY2030 achieved.
★★★★☆ : Progress toward achieving KPI for FY2030 in advance.
★★★☆☆ : KPI for FY2024 achieved or progress toward achieving KPI for FY2030 as planned.
★★☆☆☆ : KPI delayed.
Medium-Term Management Plan (FY2025–2027) KGI, KPI
Materiality: Development of a sustainable supply chain
KGI (the figure which wants to have 2030): Working with suppliers to build a sustainable procurement network
Responsibility Department: Maruha Nichiro Sustainability Department (former Corporate Planning Department sustainability group)
| KPI | Target | |
|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 2030 | |
| Rate of agreement with supplier guidelines and rate of improvement in key items (Overall G) | - | 100% |
| Establishment of CSR audit methods and standards and audit methods for avoiding the procurement of seafood derived from IUU fisheries | Establishment of methods to avoid IUU fishery procurement and promotion of lobbying activities | Group-wide operation |
*MN = Maruha Nichiro Co., Ltd.
Main Initiatives in FY2024
Introduction of Supplier Survey System and Revision of Guidelines
Maruha Nichiro Co., Ltd. introduced and started operating the "Maruha Nichiro Supplier Survey System" in FY2022. By systematizing supplier research and analysis, it has become possible for both our company and suppliers to "accumulate data" and "visualize issues." In addition, the revised Supplier Guidelines clarified the items for eliminating IUU fishing, environmental considerations, and requesting cooperation from secondary suppliers, and created a guideline explanation. We will continue to encourage suppliers to comply with these guidelines and strive to strengthen our management system by encouraging improvement initiatives based on the guideline explanation.
Confirmed Status of Compliance with Supplier Guidelines
In FY2022, we conducted a supplier survey of 1,000 suppliers of Maruha Nichiro Corporation to confirm the status of compliance with the revised Supplier Guidelines using the supplier survey system we introduced.
From FY2023 to FY2024, we focused on increasing the registration rate of our suppliers, achieving 100% system coverage for food suppliers in FY2024, and surveyed 681 suppliers who were unable to conduct a survey in FY2022 on their compliance with the Supplier Guidelines. In FY2025, we will engage in dialogue with suppliers who have been found to have insufficient responses to the responses from the previous two surveys to improve through the supplier survey system. From now on, we plan to conduct surveys and dialogues on a biennial cycle.
KPI Progress Chart
| KPI | FY2022 | FY2023 | FY2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| System Coverage (MN)* | 50.1% | 64.0% | 100% |
| Supplier Guidelines Agreement Rate (MN) | 46.4% | 42.5% | 83.1% |
| Supplier Guidelines Agreement Rate (Overall G) | - | - | - |
| Improvement rate of important items to supplier guidelines (MN) | - | - | - |
| Improvement rate of important items to supplier guidelines (G) | - | - | - |
*Figures for FY2024 are limited to food suppliers
- In addition to the above, we will also begin to establish a CSR audit method that has been newly set as a KPI, and we will proceed to disclose information along with the progress of the development of the group of our initiatives.
| Items (Other) | FY2022 | FY2023 | FY2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of suppliers surveyed on compliance with supplier guidelines | 1,000 | ー | 681 |
| Number of suppliers who responded*1 | ー | ー | 1,397 |
| ➤ Number of important suppliers (certified factories*2) | ー | ー | 307 |
| Suppliers found to have insufficient response in the seven important items*3 | ー | ー | 144 |
| ➤ Number of important suppliers (certified factories) | ー | ー | 16 |
- *1
- Combined surveys conducted in FY2022 and FY2024
- *2
- Factories that manufacture Maruha Nichiro brand products and have passed their own hygiene management standards.
- *3
- Of the 32 questions in the questionnaire, we identified items that were considered particularly important.
Educating Suppliers Through “Quality Assurance Meetings” for Partner Factories
With the aim of improving the level of quality assurance by strengthening cooperation with the supply chain, Maruha Nichiro Co., Ltd. holds the “Cooperative Factory Quality Assurance Meeting” for managers of major domestic manufacturing contractors who cooperate in the manufacture of products.
In FY2024, in addition to reporting on quality-related initiatives and the occurrence of complaints and accidents, a person in charge of the Corporate Planning Department of Maruha Nichiro Co., Ltd. (currently the Sustainability Strategy Department) explained and shared the Group's materiality and, among them, the progress of supply chain management initiatives. We asked for your understanding of our business partners and their cooperation in building a supply chain that takes CSR into consideration.
We will continue to hold this meeting in the future and provide opportunities to disseminate information to share information with our manufacturing contractors, gain their understanding of our policy and strive to strengthen cooperation in the supply chain.
