Major UK strawberry supplier S&A Produce has dismissed allegations in the national press that it has been mistreating labourers, and said the biggest threat to supply this week has been restrictions to picking caused by the extreme temperatures.
S&A’s Graham Neal told FPJ there is no truth in rumours that the company had been forced to change any of its trading arrangements after claims it had been practicing “modern day slavery” at its Hereford site were posited by the Transport & General Workers’ Union.
“I can tell you categorically that nothing has changed,” he said.
Tesco and Sainsbury’s both confirmed to FPJ they have not altered their supply programmes this week, although precautionary audits have been carried out at S&A following the T&G’s accusations.
A Sainsbury’s spokeswoman said: “Sainsbury’s sent one of its senior representatives to S&A to discuss the allegations and [S&A] have got a strong case. Now we are waiting to hear from the T&G with evidence for their claims. We believe the T&G and S&A are meeting this week and we expect to hear more at the end of the week.”
A Tesco spokeswoman added: “We have spoken to the TGWU and will engage with them in light of the issues they have raised. We will be carrying out our own investigation to ensure that S&A Davies are operating fairly and are meeting required labour standards.”
Meanwhile, Neal said the hot weather was holding up both the picking and delivery of S&A’s fruit and warned this could have a knock-on effect on retail availability if the difficulties continued.
“At the moment we haven’t got enough to supply. Because it is so hot it is really difficult trying to get pickers out and now I’m hearing warnings of the roads our lorries use melting in the heat,” he said.
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