{"id":33864,"date":"2024-06-07T10:49:20","date_gmt":"2024-06-07T14:49:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gfs.ca\/?page_id=33864"},"modified":"2024-06-10T20:51:34","modified_gmt":"2024-06-11T00:51:34","slug":"modern-slavery-report","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/gfs.ca\/en-ca\/modern-slavery-report\/","title":{"rendered":"Modern Slavery Report"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"33864\" class=\"elementor elementor-33864\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section data-particle_enable=\"false\" data-particle-mobile-disabled=\"false\" class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-a77a834 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"a77a834\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-8c6752c\" data-id=\"8c6752c\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1cd419c elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1cd419c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">2023 Modern Slavery Report<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-be2c5cc elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"be2c5cc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>By GFS Canada Company Inc. and its Canadian subsidiaries set forth on Exhibit A<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section data-particle_enable=\"false\" data-particle-mobile-disabled=\"false\" class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-145df0b elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"145df0b\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-a98f3dd\" data-id=\"a98f3dd\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cbec8e4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"cbec8e4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">1. Introduction<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2a495cd elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2a495cd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This 2023 Modern Slavery Report (the \u201c<\/span><b>Report<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201d) is produced by GFS Canada Company Inc. and its Canadian subsidiaries set forth on <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Exhibit A<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (\u201c<\/span><b>GFS<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201d or the \u201c<\/span><b>Corporation<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201d or \u201c<\/span><b>our<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201d or \u201c<\/span><b>we<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201d) for the financial year ending October 28, 2023 (the \u201c<\/span><b>Reporting Period<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201d) and sets out the steps taken to prevent and reduce the risk that forced labour or child labour is used at any stage in our supply chain in Canada or elsewhere for goods imported into Canada by the Corporation.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This Report constitutes the first report prepared by the Corporation pursuant to Canada\u2019s new Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act (the \u201c<\/span><b>Act<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201d).<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6fd157a elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"6fd157a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">2. Steps to Prevent and Reduce Risks of Forced Labour and Child Labour<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5e00e18 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5e00e18\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We consider the respect of human rights to be a fundamental corporate responsibility and a value governing all of our activities. We place the highest importance on respecting human rights while conducting our business activities everywhere we operate. We expect the same of our business partners.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In general terms, we took the following steps during the Reporting Period to prevent and reduce the risk of forced labour or child labour in our business and supply chains:<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reviewed and commenced work to update our Supplier Code of Conduct;<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reviewed our internal Code of Business Conduct, which sets out basic principles to guide our employees;\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reviewed our GFS North American Purchase Order Terms and Conditions;<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reviewed and considered other supplier screening and mitigation efforts; and<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Commenced the development of employee trainings and awareness activities on fighting against forced labour and child labour;<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Details of the above actions are set out in this Report.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9efee4a elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"9efee4a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">3. Structure, Activities and Supply Chains<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-71b5905 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"71b5905\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">GFS is a distribution business specialized in the foodservice industry. GFS manages nine distribution centers (\u201c<\/span><b>DCs<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201d) across Canada. All GFS DCs are operated by a single legal entity under one business number, Gordon Food Service Canada Ltd. (\u201c<\/span><b>GFS Canada<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201d), with each of them able to list, order, purchase, receive and distribute products.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">GFS services domestic customers only, the majority of which are independent restaurants and restaurant chains, as well as various institutions providing food services (hospitals, schools, other institutions). GFS generally does not sell or distribute goods directly to retail consumers. The vast majority of products entering GFS\u2019s supply chain are purchased domestically from Canadian based vendors. In addition, the Company has approved a small percentage of foreign manufacturers and suppliers for direct purchasing and imports of goods. Based on data from the Reporting Period, all approved foreign suppliers were US based companies, with the exception of two suppliers from Israel and one from Belgium. Almost half of all goods imported by GFS Canada were wholly obtained or fully grown within the United States, which helps to reduce the potential exposure to production in its extended supply chain by forced, slave or child labor.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">By regulating our sourcing footprint, we can concentrate our supply chain efforts solely on vendors and manufacturers from jurisdictions that lead the global efforts against child and forced labor.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-50f554b elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"50f554b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">3.1\tSpecialty Companies &amp; Strategic Alliances<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-92d6508 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"92d6508\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In addition to its core business operations in Canada, GFS oversees a network of Canadian Specialty Companies (\u201c<\/span><b>SCs<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201d) and Strategic Alliances (\u201c<\/span><b>SAs<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201d), which provide a higher level of specialization in the areas of sourcing, processing and distribution of goods for the foodservice industry. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Exhibit A<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to this report identifies a list of SCs and SAs covered by this report. While each of these businesses operate as a separate legal entity, each with its own vendor base and individual sourcing footprint, all of them share GFS\u2019s commitment to prevent and reduce the risks of forced labour and child labour in our supply chains.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many of the policies and procedures outlined in this report are already fully adopted by all of GFS\u2019s SCs and SAs. Furthermore, several of them have implemented advanced verification measures such as visitations to factories and production sites, third party reporting, as well as requirements for formal corporate statements reaffirming suppliers\u2019 zero-tolerance towards any form of child and forced labor. These measures are an integral part of GFS\u2019s comprehensive efforts to combat modern slavery.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a1bece4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"a1bece4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">4. Policies, Governance and Due Diligence Processes<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-79d4d6b elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"79d4d6b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">4.1\tGFS North American Purchase Order Terms &amp; Conditions (\u201cGFS NA PO T&amp;C\u201d)<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f655fba elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f655fba\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">GFS is committed to embedding human rights considerations into our policies and purchasing agreements with suppliers. Our GFS NA PO T&amp;C specifically includes provisions prohibiting forced labor and human trafficking, including, but not limited to:<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e9279e6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e9279e6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>26.<b> Sanctions and Embargoes.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Supplier shall not source Products directly or indirectly, whether in whole or in part, from or through any country that is subject to embargo-type sanctions imposed by the U.S. government (as of the date of this agreement, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, and the Crimea region of Ukraine); or any person or entity that is designated on an applicable list of restricted persons, including but not limited to the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List and other sanctions lists enforced by the U.S. Department of the Treasury\u2019s Office of Foreign Assets Control, the Consolidated Canadian Autonomous Sanctions List, the Consolidated list of persons, groups and entities subject to EU financial sanctions enforced by member states of the European Union, the HM Treasury sanctions list enforced by the UK government, and the United Nations Security Council Consolidated List of sanctioned persons (collectively, a \u201cRestricted Person\u201d).\u00a0 Supplier shall not use, hire, or retain any Restricted Person, or a vessel or aircraft designated on any restricted party list, in the transport of the Products to GFS. Supplier furthermore affirms that it is not, nor is it owned or controlled directly or indirectly whether in whole or in part, by any Restricted Person.<\/span><\/p><p>27.<b> Forced Labor and Human Trafficking.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Supplier represents that all goods or products supplied to GFS are manufactured without the use of forced labor (including the use of convict, indentured, slave, bonded, or other involuntary labor), child labor (including the employment of persons younger than the age of 14 or the local legal minimum working age, whichever is higher, or employment that otherwise violates applicable child labor laws in the jurisdiction where the work is performed), or human trafficking. Supplier represents that all goods or Products supplied to GFS have been manufactured and shall continue to be manufactured in accordance with all applicable Anti-Slavery and Anti-Human Trafficking Laws in the United Kingdom, United States, and other countries where Supplier operates, including, without limitation, the United Kingdom\u2019s Modern Slavery Act of 2015, the California Transparency in Supply Chains Act of 2010, and other supply chain requirements enforced by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (\u201cCBP\u201d). Supplier represents that none of the goods or Products supplied to GFS have been or will be subject to a Withhold Release Order by CBP. Supplier agrees to notify GFS immediately of any and all material changes at a Supplier factory or facility that supplies goods or Products to GFS with respect to forced labor or human trafficking risk factors or of any material changes that would affect the accuracy of any representation relating to forced labor, child labor, and\/or human trafficking. Supplier further agrees to notify GFS of any and all allegations from any source of forced labor or human trafficking with respect to its operations in any country or the manufacture of any Product. Supplier represents that none of the goods or Products provided to GFS appears on any lists published by any governmental entity of goods produced by forced labor including the Bureau of International Labor Affairs List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor (collectively, \u201cForced Labor Lists\u201d). If any goods or Products provided to GFS do appear on any Forced Labor List (meaning any goods on the list from the associated country(ies) on such list), Supplier shall promptly notify GFS in writing, and shall certify that it has made reasonable, good-faith efforts to determine whether the particular supplies or products at issue were produced with forced labor or child labor and has concluded that they were not. Upon making such a determination, Supplier agrees to allow GFS either to (1) review the documents and information demonstrating such good-faith efforts and supporting the Supplier conclusions or (2) reject the goods at issue.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">40.D. <\/span><b>Representation, Warranties and Agreements About the Products.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0 In addition to the authorities listed in section 12(d) of these Terms and Conditions, Supplier represents and warrants to GFS, and agrees, that the Products comply with all applicable laws, including, without limitation, the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, the Federal Child Labor Act, the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946, the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act and the Poison Prevention Packaging Act of 1970, the Poultry Products Inspection Act, the Federal Meat Inspection Act, Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act of 2004, the Flammable Fabrics Act, the Federal Hazardous Substances Act, the Textile Fiber Products Identification Act, the Wool Products Labeling Act of 1939, the Fur Products Labeling Act, the Consumer Product Safety Act, the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, 29 U.S.C. \u00a7651et q. and all standards, rules, regulations and orders issued pursuant thereto, the Copyright Act of 1976 and state and federal trademark laws and patent laws, the Bioterrorism Act, and the FSMA, as each may be amended from time to time.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8767921 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8767921\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The GFS NA PO T&amp;C can be found here: <a href=\"https:\/\/gfs.ca\/en-ca\/legal\/\">https:\/\/gfs.ca\/en-ca\/legal\/\u00a0<\/a><\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">SCs and SAs generally utilize different baseline purchase order terms and conditions when purchasing products from suppliers. However, those terms contain broad and comprehensive protections and commitments to comply with applicable law, among other things. We are evaluating potential updates to the SCs and SAs purchaser order terms and conditions that could mirror the above-described provisions. <\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e22e2da elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"e22e2da\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">4.2\tGFS Supplier Code of Conduct (the \u201cSupplier Code\u201d)<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8d7f908 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8d7f908\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">GFS has adopted the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/gfs.com\/en-us\/supplier-code-of-conduct\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Supplier Code of Conduct<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which is specifically referenced in Section 12 of the<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/gfs.com\/en-us\/legal\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">GFS NA PO T&amp;C&#8217;s<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (\u201c(h) Supplier will comply with GFS\u2019s <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Supplier<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/gfs.com\/en-us\/supplier-code-of-conduct\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Code of Conduct<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (the \u201cSupplier Code\u201d), which sets forth the principles and ethical standards with which GFS expects all its suppliers to comply\u201d). The Supplier Code, which is reviewed annually, details our expectations of suppliers in respect of human rights, labour, legal compliance, health and safety, the environment, anti-corruption, ethics, and governance. The Supplier Code can be found here: <a href=\"https:\/\/gfs.ca\/en-ca\/supplier-code-of-conduct\/\">https:\/\/gfs.ca\/en-ca\/supplier-code-of-conduct\/\u00a0<\/a><\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">SCs and SAs generally have implemented a parallel Supplier Code of Conduct, and have similar obligations to comply embedded within their respective purchase order terms and conditions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Our Supplier Code specifically includes provisions prohibiting child labour and forced labour, as follows:<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9ee3b0f elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"9ee3b0f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">LABOR AND HUMAN RIGHTS<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1f8c3a7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1f8c3a7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We are committed to observing fair labor practices and to treating everyone with dignity and respect. Gordon Food Service relies upon human rights definitions as set forth by the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights (UNDHR). We expect our suppliers to make the same commitments by having controls in place that:<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ensure a workplace free from discrimination or harassment<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Prohibit any form of child labor, forced labor, or human trafficking<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Verify the employment eligibility of their employees<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ensure compliance with applicable wage, hour, and benefits laws<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Respect the right of employees to freely associate<\/span><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a60e850 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"a60e850\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">BUSINESS ETHICS<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6b632d2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6b632d2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We are committed to operating our business with integrity, respect, accountability, and honor. Our Cornerstone Values are the principles we believe in that guide our actions and interactions each day. We expect our suppliers to conduct business in accordance with the highest ethical standards and to have controls in place that prohibit and detect the misuse of company assets, corruption, bribery, fraud, extortion, and embezzlement. Gifts or hospitality exchanged in the normal course of business must be reasonable and customary and not be intended to influence business decisions or provide an unfair advantage. All suppliers\u2019 business dealings should be fair, legal, and honest.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e2cbcf5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"e2cbcf5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">4.3\tGFS Business Code of Conduct<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2dbd366 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2dbd366\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">GFS strives to conduct its business activities and transactions with the highest level of integrity and ethical standards in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations. To further this goal, GFS has adopted the Code of Business Conduct (the \u201c<\/span><b>Business Code<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201d) which sets out basic principles to guide all employees. The Business Code reiterates the importance of acting lawfully, ethically, and fairly. The Business Code makes it clear that each employee is responsible for understanding and following all the laws and regulations that apply to the employee\u2019s role and duties at GFS; this includes laws prohibiting forced and child labor. Each employee also has a personal responsibility under the Business Code to bring violations or suspected violations to the attention of GFS. GFS established a toll-free hotline called \u201c<\/span><b>The Integrity Hotline<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201d for employees to make such reports. The Integrity Hotline is a toll-free number (800-727-4811) and a website (<\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.reportlineweb.com\/GFSIntegrityHotline\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">www.reportlineweb.com\/GFSIntegrityHotline<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) available to all employees. GFS policy ensures that no retaliation will occur as a result of anyone who, in good faith, reports suspected violations.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">SCs and SAs have each generally implemented similar Codes of Business Conduct that apply to their respective employees.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-736ba55 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"736ba55\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">5. Assessing and managing our risk<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2198b29 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2198b29\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">GFS evaluates and mitigates the risk of forced and child labor within its supply chain, focusing predominantly on the characteristics and geographic location of its vendors.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The company has adopted several restrictions in its Vendor Management System (\u201c<\/span><b>VMS<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201d) that prevent listing of any new suppliers based outside of North America.\u00a0 As a secondary measure the VMS also identifies for prevention of listing products based on uncommon or suspicious 1. Corporate address; 2. Physical location of the goods offered for purchase; and 3. Currency. Finally, VMS also allows us to track vendors based on the type of products and food safety quality assurance standards, as well as trade compliance regulations.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Moreover, GFS employs a third-party service provider for real-time screening of our international suppliers. This screening platform employs an algorithm to detect potential matches within our foreign vendor network against extensive databases of prohibited and sanctioned entities managed by governmental authorities in the United States, Canada, and the European Union. Given the increasing number of regulatory bodies monitoring and documenting instances of forced and child labor violations worldwide, this screening tool stands as a vital component of our risk management strategy.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">SCs and SAs are currently reviewing their current processes and procedures and evaluating, and potentially implementing and utilizing similar protocols as described above.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Additionally, our Legal Department generally participates in the negotiation of contracts when there are requested deviations from our standard terms and conditions, by providing recommendations to the procurement department and to SCs and SAs. The Legal Department endeavors to ensure that contracts comply with the legislation in force and with ethical practice standards.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-de96bf3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"de96bf3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">6. Remediation Measures<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ae7446c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ae7446c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the Reporting Period, GFS did not identify any incident of forced labour or child labour in our activities or supply chain. Therefore, there was not a need to take any measures to remediate an incident of forced labour or child labour.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If we do identify any incidents of forced labour within our activities or supply chains, we will consider the appropriate remediation strategies in compliance with international standards.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-722a2b8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"722a2b8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">7. Training<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e344cde elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e344cde\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">GFS has worked to develop training on matters related to forced labour and child labour. GFS is in the process of finalizing and initiating such new training initiatives. Employees throughout GFS Canada that have involvement with GFS&#8217;s supply chain will be responsible for completing this training. Relevant and applicable employees of SAs and SCs will be included within these training initiatives as well. <\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2bab3c5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"2bab3c5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">8. Assessing Effectiveness<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2bcbb88 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2bcbb88\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As stated above, GFS has in place a number of measures to prevent and reduce the risk that forced labour or child labour is used in our activities and supply chains. No activities to date have been undertaken to assess the effectiveness of those actions. GFS intends to assess its effectiveness in preventing and reducing risks of forced labour and child labour in its activities and supply chains at a later stage.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-88d1e84 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"88d1e84\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">9. Approval and Attestation<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-00f219d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"00f219d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In my capacity as a Director of GFS Canada Company Inc. and not in my personal capacity, I make this attestation in accordance with the requirements of the Act.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This Report was approved pursuant to subparagraph 11(4)(b)(ii) of the Act by the Board of Directors of GFS Canada Company Inc. In accordance with the requirements of the Act, and in particular section 11 thereof, I, the undersigned, attest that I have reviewed the information contained in this report for the entity listed above. Based on my knowledge, and having exercised reasonable diligence, I attest that the information in this report is true, accurate and complete in all material respects for the purposes of the Act, for the reporting year listed above.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I have the authority to bind GFS Canada Company Inc.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>Per:<\/p><p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-33867 \" src=\"https:\/\/gfs.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Screenshot-2024-06-07-at-11.21.00\u202fAM-300x166.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"184\" height=\"102\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gfs.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Screenshot-2024-06-07-at-11.21.00\u202fAM-300x166.png 300w, https:\/\/gfs.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Screenshot-2024-06-07-at-11.21.00\u202fAM-18x10.png 18w, https:\/\/gfs.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Screenshot-2024-06-07-at-11.21.00\u202fAM.png 746w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 184px) 100vw, 184px\" \/><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Full Name: Dean M. Noble<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Title: Director of GFS Canada Company Inc.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Date: May 22, 2024<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>2023 Modern Slavery Report By GFS Canada Company Inc. and its Canadian subsidiaries set forth on Exhibit A 1. Introduction This 2023 Modern Slavery Report (the \u201cReport\u201d) is produced by GFS Canada Company Inc. and its Canadian subsidiaries set forth on Exhibit A (\u201cGFS\u201d or the \u201cCorporation\u201d or \u201cour\u201d or \u201cwe\u201d) for the financial year [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":20,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-33864","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v22.9 (Yoast SEO v27.0) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Modern Slavery Report | Gordon Food Service<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/gfs.ca\/en-ca\/modern-slavery-report\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Modern Slavery Report\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"2023 Modern Slavery Report By GFS Canada Company Inc. and its Canadian subsidiaries set forth on Exhibit A 1. Introduction This 2023 Modern Slavery Report (the \u201cReport\u201d) is produced by GFS Canada Company Inc. and its Canadian subsidiaries set forth on Exhibit A (\u201cGFS\u201d or the \u201cCorporation\u201d or \u201cour\u201d or \u201cwe\u201d) for the financial year [&hellip;]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/gfs.ca\/en-ca\/modern-slavery-report\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Gordon Food Service\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/GordonFoodService\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2024-06-11T00:51:34+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/gfs.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/GordonFoodService_Logo_RGB.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"628\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"210\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@GFSDelivers\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"13 minutes\" \/>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Modern Slavery Report | Gordon Food Service","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/gfs.ca\/en-ca\/modern-slavery-report\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Modern Slavery Report","og_description":"2023 Modern Slavery Report By GFS Canada Company Inc. and its Canadian subsidiaries set forth on Exhibit A 1. Introduction This 2023 Modern Slavery Report (the \u201cReport\u201d) is produced by GFS Canada Company Inc. and its Canadian subsidiaries set forth on Exhibit A (\u201cGFS\u201d or the \u201cCorporation\u201d or \u201cour\u201d or \u201cwe\u201d) for the financial year [&hellip;]","og_url":"https:\/\/gfs.ca\/en-ca\/modern-slavery-report\/","og_site_name":"Gordon Food Service","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/GordonFoodService\/","article_modified_time":"2024-06-11T00:51:34+00:00","og_image":[{"width":628,"height":210,"url":"https:\/\/gfs.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/GordonFoodService_Logo_RGB.png","type":"image\/png"}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_site":"@GFSDelivers","twitter_misc":{"Est. reading time":"13 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/gfs.ca\/en-ca\/modern-slavery-report\/","url":"https:\/\/gfs.ca\/en-ca\/modern-slavery-report\/","name":"Modern Slavery Report | Gordon Food Service","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/gfs.ca\/en-ca\/#website"},"datePublished":"2024-06-07T14:49:20+00:00","dateModified":"2024-06-11T00:51:34+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/gfs.ca\/en-ca\/modern-slavery-report\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-CA","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/gfs.ca\/en-ca\/modern-slavery-report\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/gfs.ca\/en-ca\/modern-slavery-report\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/gfs.ca\/en-ca\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Modern Slavery Report"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/gfs.ca\/en-ca\/#website","url":"https:\/\/gfs.ca\/en-ca\/","name":"Gordon Food Service","description":"","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/gfs.ca\/en-ca\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/gfs.ca\/en-ca\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-CA"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/gfs.ca\/en-ca\/#organization","name":"Gordon Food Service","url":"https:\/\/gfs.ca\/en-ca\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-CA","@id":"https:\/\/gfs.ca\/en-ca\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/gfs.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/GFS-EN-Logo-og-image.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/gfs.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/GFS-EN-Logo-og-image.png","width":1200,"height":630,"caption":"Gordon Food Service"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/gfs.ca\/en-ca\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/GordonFoodService\/","https:\/\/x.com\/GFSDelivers","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/gordonfoodservice\/","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/gordon-food-service\/"]}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gfs.ca\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/33864","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gfs.ca\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gfs.ca\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gfs.ca\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/20"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gfs.ca\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=33864"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/gfs.ca\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/33864\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gfs.ca\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=33864"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}