Denisa PÂRVU Quality Responsible Private Label Product development and supplier selection We strive every day to provide customers with high quality and affordable products. For us, quality is a process built on sound principles and continuous improvement. To guarantee the safety and quality of the private label products we sell, we have developed a strict quality control system, starting from the product development and supplier selection stage, through product control and monitoring, handling and managing complaints and product recalls, and ensuring compliance with hygiene and food safety requirements in our workplaces. Access to sufficient amounts of safe and nutritious food is key to sustaining life and promoting health. Unsafe food containing bacteria, viruses, parasites, or harmful chemicals causes ill health in the population. Therefore, we place particular importance on identifying and managing food safety risks, including hygiene rules. For the development of private label products, there is a close collaboration between the Purchasing, Marketing, and Quality Management departments to define criteria that meet the requirements of our customers. To this end, the results of market research are taken into account, comparative checks are made on the composition of similar products on the market, and checks are made on the sensory characteristics of the products (appearance, consistency, smell, taste) and packaging possibilities. To ensure maximum product quality and safety, all our private label manufacturing sites must comply with the certification requirements defined by REWE, and we pay particular attention to sites certified to International Featured Standard (IFS) standards. For the supplier selection process, the product composition is evaluated to verify compliance with REWE requirements, and product samples are sensorily evaluated through blind tasting. In addition to certification requirements, all selected suppliers are subject to unannounced audits to ensure that hygiene, food safety, and good manufacturing practice requirements are met, as well as REWE standards. We work with suppliers who share our uncompromising approach to product quality and safety. Compliance with the certification requirements of production units, product composition, and quality requirements are essential criteria for starting cooperation with any new supplier of private label articles. Suppliers producing our private labels are regularly audited to identify potential food safety and product quality risks. Customer complaints are treated seriously, and products are checked and tested through laboratory analysis. Employees are regularly trained on compliance with hygiene criteria. To meet our requirements, PENNY suppliers must hold at least one of the following certifications: International Featured Standards (IFS) Food – Food and Feed for animals International Featured Standards (IFS) Household and Personal Care (HPC) – Non-food products Currently, 76.85% of all private label suppliers have an IFS certification, while the remainder are taking steps to do so. During the reporting period, we conducted 76 Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) audits of private label products to identify and prevent potential safety and compliance hazards. CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND BUSINESS SUSTAINABLE ASSORTMENT ENERGY, CLIMATE AND RESOURCES EMPLOYEES AND SOCIETY REPORT ASSURANCE GRI & SASB INDEX
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