Procurement
Of all the major merchanting groups Grafton has made it a priority to establish close working partnerships with its suppliers, most of whom are leaders in their product sectors. This alliance with manufacturers and suppliers ensures that Grafton has robust supply chains that are well-documented and easily traceable.
All Grafton suppliers adhere to national or international industry guidelines which govern safety and all aspects of manufacturing. They are also subject to Grafton’s own sustainable development policy. This ensures that sustainable development is a consideration at every stage of the procurement process.
The huge selection of products supplied by Grafton’s merchanting operations, like Buildbase, Plumbase and Jackson Building Centres, range from the basic core building materials to products and materials that are innovative and offer the latest technology available. This is especially appropriate for the public sector which often demands specialist products for particular applications e.g. purpose-designed sanitaryware and fittings for public buildings and products that require little maintenance and, most importantly, are easy to keep clean. Product information and installation advice can also be provided.
Ethical Trading
Our ethical purchasing objective is to ensure that people in the supply chain are treated with respect and have employment rights. This includes the right to freely choose employment, freedom of association, payment of a living wage, working hours that comply with national laws, equal opportunities, a recognised employment relationship, freedom from intimidation and a safe and healthy working environment.
ISO 9001 Quality Assurance
All Grafton Merchanting GB national partnering services and the majority of Jackson Building Centres are ISO 9001 accredited. Grafton Merchanting GB is also working towards accreditation with British Standards in it’s specialist merchanting businesses which it hopes to achieve in early 2010.