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Statement on Section 172(1) of the Companies Act 2006

Directors' statement of compliance with duty to promote the success of the Group

Section 172 of the Companies Act 2006 requires a Director of a Company to act in the way he or she considers, in good faith, would be most likely to promote the success of the Company for the benefit of its members as a whole. In doing this, section 172 requires a Director to have regard, among other matters, to: the likely consequences of any decision in the long term; the interests of the Company's employees; the need to foster the Company's business relationships with suppliers, clients, joint arrangement partners and others; the impact of the Company's operations on the community and the environment; the desirability of the Company maintaining a reputation for high standards of business conduct; and the need to act fairly with members of the Company.

The Directors give careful consideration to the factors set out above in discharging their duties under section 172. The stakeholders we consider in this regard are the people who work for us, our customers and those in the supply chain with whom we engage, our owners, regulatory bodies and those that live in the societies within which we operate. The Directors recognise that building strong relationships with our stakeholders will help us to deliver our strategy in line with our long-term values and operate the business in a sustainable way. We are committed to doing business responsibly and thinking for the long term.

The Directors regularly receive reports from management on issues concerning customers, the environment, suppliers, employees and other stakeholders which it takes into account in its discussions and in its decision- making process under section 172.

Employees

Directors receive monthly updates on various staff metrics. The Directors are committed to promoting a healthy workforce with focus on mental health and wellbeing, developing a culture of inclusion, ensuring training and development opportunities are provided and keeping staff informed of key issues through our communications network. We look to attract and retain staff via our recruitment and development strategies.

Applications for employment by disabled persons are always fully considered, bearing in mind the abilities of the applicant concerned. In the event of members of staff becoming disabled, every effort is made to ensure that their employment with the Company continues and that appropriate training is arranged. It is the policy of the company that the training, career development and promotion of disabled persons should, as far as possible, be identical to that of other employees.

Customers

The Directors and senior management commit considerable time, effort and resources into understanding and responding to the needs of our customers with a view to fostering long term mutually beneficial partnerships. This includes meeting the increasing business needs of our customers who wish to take advantage of the operational efficiencies available from online ordering, with next day delivery. For everyday essential items, our 396 stores located throughout the UK enable same day collection of goods.

Suppliers

We have consistent standards and procedures for the onboarding and use of external suppliers. We require suppliers to meet our compliance and financial stability requirements, as well as to meet our requirements around health and safety where appropriate. Payment on time is of paramount importance and we seek to adhere to all applicable payment terms.

Download Section 172 Statement