Values-Based Code Reflects Expectations for Suppliers and Pledges Continuous Improvement in Corporate Social Responsibility
The Wendy’s Company has announced the public release of its Supplier Code of Conduct. Since its founding in 1969 by Dave Thomas, Wendy’s has operated under a core set of values and has enjoyed long-standing, collaborative relationships with some of the food industry’s leading suppliers. This Code of Conduct takes into account the current best practices and standards of Wendy’s supply chain and also identifies future aspirations to encourage continuous improvement in a meaningful way. The Code focuses on chief areas important to the Wendy’s brand and its customers, including: food safety and food ingredients, farm animal health and well-being, human rights and labor practices, environmentally sustainable business practices and business ethics and integrity.
“When Dave Thomas was eight-years-old he dreamed he’d run the best restaurant in the world,” said Emil Brolick, President and Chief Executive Officer. “Under his leadership, Wendy’s helped to lead the way to set and enforce standards for the humane care of animals raised for our food as part of a responsible, safe and sustainable food supply chain. Additionally, because of Dave’s commitment to quality, he only wanted the freshest ingredients; therefore, he created an infrastructure that has allowed us to serve beef that has never been frozen along with other fresh ingredients, like iceberg and romaine lettuce, tomatoes and strawberries in our more than 6,000 North American restaurants.”
Wendy’s established its Supplier Code of Conduct to aggregate and outline key priorities, and encourage supplier responsibility across critical areas of the supply chain. The Code, developed with input from Wendy’s supplier community, takes effect in 2016 and will initially govern United States suppliers contractually managed by Quality Supply Chain Co-op, Inc., Wendy’s independent purchasing co-op, which currently represents more than 90% of the brand’s global purchasing in the areas of food, packaging, equipment and distribution.
In future years, Wendy’s may expand the Code to other suppliers in areas such as professional services and international operations.
Guided by the value of “Do the Right Thing,” Wendy’s has been a leader and innovator in the quick-service restaurant industry across the corporate social responsibility spectrum:
- 1979: Becomes the first national QSR chain to introduce salad bars, beginning a 35+ year legacy of serving freshly prepared salads.
- 1983: Becomes the first national quick-service restaurant chain to introduce Baked Potatoes to the menu as a means to offer an alternative for customers seeking choices.
- 1985: Among the first quick-service restaurant chains to provide nutritional information in restaurant.
- 1996: Establishes animal welfare auditing practices using external animal welfare experts to review supplier performance and recommend improvements.
- 2001: Establishes an Animal Welfare Council to regularly review and strengthen the Company’s animal welfare standards and to review the performance of suppliers to ensure compliance with those standards.
- 2004: Sponsors the development of the ground breaking, signature program of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, Wendy’s Wonderful Kids which utilizes specialized recruiters to move the longest-waiting children from foster care to adoptive families and has helped more than 5,100 children find their forever families.
- 2012: The Dave Thomas Building and Conference Center opens at Wendy’s headquarters in Dublin, Ohio and is awarded with the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED Silver certification.
- 2015: Announces Supplier Code of Conduct to codify Wendy’s current supply chain best practices and standards and also to identify future aspirations for continuous improvement.
- 2022: Goal date to eliminate the use of sow gestation stalls in our supply chain.
“Our pledge to continuous improvement of supply chain practices has guided our supplier relationships to date. These issues have become even more important as consumers seek to understand the practices of the brands they support,” said Liliana Esposito, Chief Communications Officer. “We are proud of the culture and values that have always guided our brand. We’re pleased to bring greater public awareness to our best practices and standards and to honor our Founder with the introduction of this Code.”
Wendy’s Supplier Code of Conduct is accessible under the Responsibility tab in Supply Chain Practices section of its website, located here.
