1.Purpose

With this policy we, as Ramstore, present all of the rules that we expect our suppliers to comply with in light of our responsible sourcing principles, as well as our policy for conducting supplier audits.

Ramstore introduces its Responsible Sourcing Policy to all suppliers, clients and tenants through all channels of communications including cooperation contracts.

 2.The Principles that Suppliers are expected to Comply with

Ramstore procures services from companies that have been established according to laws and operate with respect for laws and makes payments to all companies, including agencies, that they are involved in representation/proxy and business partnership relations with in compliance with laws. 

• As Ramstore we expect the suppliers that we work with;
• To be respectful to human rights principles,
• To comply with national and international ethical rules,
• To comply with work health and safety rules,
• To protect the environment and natural resources,
• To act according to all national and international regulations in all processes they provide like products and services, commercial, logistic, production and financial work and human resources.
• We, as Ramstore, expect all our suppliers to not only comply with mandatory requirements but also to work on constantly improving themselves over time in the scope of the “Ramstore Quality Policy” and we provide all the information support that suppliers may need.
• Compliance with the Human Rights Principles
• The Freedom to Organize and the Right to Collective Labor Contracts

Our suppliers must respect the rights of their employees to join or not join unions and their freedom to organize and must act in accordance with all local and national laws regarding collective labor contracts.

• Prevention of Forced Labor and Abuse

Our suppliers must prohibit any kind of forced labor and abuse including labor under imprisonment, labor under military, slavery or human trafficking and must act in compliance with national and international laws concerning forced labor and abuse.

• Child Labor

Our suppliers must act in compliance with national and international laws and regulations concerning the prohibition of child labor.

• Combating Discrimination

Our suppliers must prevent discrimination and verbal and physical harassment in the work place. Discrimination must be prevented in all employment activities. Processes that are based on talent, performance and experience should be implemented. Our suppliers must act in compliance with national and international laws and regulations concerning discrimination and harassment.

• Work Hours & Salaries

Our suppliers must act in complete compliance with laws and regulations concerning salaries, overtime and other benefits.

• Compliance with Codes of Conduct (Combating Bribery and Corruption)

Our suppliers must not act in any way that could compromise the mutual trust in their business relations against employees, stakeholders, business partners, suppliers, customers, rivals, the environment and the community.

Our suppliers are obligated to keep the information they have learned about Ramstore during their business relations with us as confidential. They may not share this information without the permission of Ramstore, with any private individual or legal entity.

They may not offer any gifts, benefit or aid to Ramstore, employees that would influence their objectivity and possibly be considered a bribe. Therefore, the offer to employees of any special organization, holiday or arrangement other than business meals cannot be accepted. Other than the chocolates and daybooks that are presented at holidays and New Year the presentation of large gifts is prohibited.

• Compliance with Occupational Health and Safety Rules

Our suppliers must provide their employees with a safe and healthy working environment. They must act in compliance with all national and international laws, regulations and rules concerning health and safety.

• Protection of the Environment and Natural Resources

For the purpose of yielding a healthier and more livable environment to future generations, we expect all of our suppliers to keep their environmental impact under control and place importance on production and efficient use of resources. 

• Constant Improvement Principle

In line with the “Ramstore Policy on quality, food safety, environment protection, health care and occupational safety and energy management,” in addition to monitoring the “Good Quality and Safe Product” production of our suppliers, we follow their performance concerning employee rights, work health and safety, work conduct, environmental impact and safe production. In this context, we are audited by ISO 17020 standard certified audit companies that are certified as per ISO 17020  regarding the requirements of product risk analysis covered by the Ramstore’s portfolio. Audits comprise both those that are announced with prior notice and those where no prior notice is given. We expect our suppliers to constantly improve their audit performance and we provide assistance and guidance to our suppliers to contribute to their constant improvement.

During the procurement of local, national and international products we provide support for constantly developing our suppliers though guidance on product quality and compliance with legal regulations.

Ramstore supports its suppliers to develop products that are produced according to sustainability principles. In this regard, we determine suppliers with national and international certificates and encourage those of our suppliers who are not certified to start the process.

3.Supplier Audits and Product Inspections

As Ramstore, we follow a special program for audit and approval on our suppliers’ products.

The scope of Ramstore supplier audits is as follows;

• ISO 22000 (Food Safety Management System)

Our supplier companies that do not achieve a sufficient number of points as a result of the audits are issued a warning and requested to correct the issues that are deemed insufficient. Suppliers that fail to achieve an improvement in 3 consecutive audits are no longer purchased from and the commercial relationship is terminated.

We use global standards as our guide for product safety and aim to provide products in healthy conditions to maintain the unconditional trust of our customers. In this context, not only do we inspect production facilities, but we also inspect all of the stages of procurement until the product reaches the consumer through using Accredited Outside Laboratories. As a result of these inspections, products that conform to legal regulations and the Ramstore standards are presented for sale. All of our stores are inspected without notice by our own staff and Independent Outside Companies to maintain the continuity of the Quality Management System.